Gio Ponti bids for Million repeat against nine rivals

While Gio Ponti certainly signaled his return to top form with his recent

Belmont score, he has not scared many rivals away. The Million field also

includes five of the top six finishers from the July 17 Arlington H. (G3), a

course-and-distance prep taken in a mild upset by RAHYSTRADA (Rahy) who had

earlier run third behind Karelian and Gio Ponti in the Tampa Bay. A half-length

behind in the Arlington 'Cap was JUST AS WELL (A.P. Indy), who had won the race

in 2009 prior to a second-place finish behind Gio Ponti in the Million.

Others exiting the Arlington are third-placer TAJAAWEED (Dynaformer),

fourth-placer MARSH SIDE (Gone West) and sixth-placer GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky

Mesa). Tajaaweed made a nice run from the back to finish 1 1/2 lengths behind

Rahystrada, but has gone winless in stakes company for more than two years.

Marsh Side, a past winner of the Canadian International (Can-G1) and Northern

Dancer Turf S. (Can-G1), might have been in need of a race following a

four-month layoff and could improve second off the bench. Trainer Neil Drysdale

is still seeking his first win in the Arlington Million, seven years after his

Storming Home (GB) was disqualified after bearing out and dumping jockey Gary

Stevens at the finish of the 2003 renewal.

General Quarters, who captured his turf debut in the Woodford Reserve Turf

Classic (G1) in May, was originally going to bypass the Million after a poor

showing in the Arlington H., but might go if the course softens up a bit. The

Tom McCarthy pupil endured a very wide trip that day in addition to running over

ground he found too firm.

A trio of European contenders has added some international spice to the

Million. Arguably the best is TAZEEZ (Silver Hawk), who finished second to 2009

Million third-placer Stotsfold (GB) (Barathea [Ire]) in the Brigadier Gerard S.

(Eng-G3) in his seasonal bow. He was next third to Byword (Peintre Celebre) and

Twice Over (GB) (Observatory) in the Prince of Wales's S. (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot and

occupied the same position behind Sans Frontieres (Galileo [Ire]) and Redwood

(High Chaparral [Ire]) in the Princess of Wales's S. (Eng-G2) at Newmarket. The

form of the latter two races has held up remarkably well, with Twice Over and

Byword running second and third, respectively, in Tuesday's Juddmonte

International S. (Eng-G1), while Sans Frontieres and Redwood each recorded Group

3 wins in their subsequent starts.

SUMMIT SURGE (Ire) (Noverre) and DEBUSSY (Ire) (Diesis [GB]) have each

recorded Group 2 wins. Summit Surge bested Debussy by 2 3/4 lengths in the July

24 York S. (Eng-G2) most recently, and trainer Luca Cumani is no stranger to

Arlington having saddled Tolomeo (Ire) to an upset score over John Henry in 1983

Million. Debussy's trainer John Gosden also crossed paths with John Henry in the

Million's early years, saddling the filly Royal Heroine (Ire) to a runner-up

finish behind the great gelding in the 1984 renewal.

The Million field is completed by the Arlington-based QUITE A HANDFUL

(Mutakddim), a rank outsider who has never won a stakes.