Magician, Adelaide take first Arlington tour

Magician enters the Million off a subpar effort in the King George VI & Queen

Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot over 1 1/2 miles. Shortening up to the 1 1/4 miles of

the Million, the son of Galileo returns to the distance at which he finished

excellent seconds in two Group 1 races this year -- the Tattersalls Gold Cup at

the Curragh on May 25 and the Prince of Wales's Stakes at the Royal Ascot

meeting on June 18. Owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier,

he made a positive impression in his first survey of the course. 

Walking directly astern Magician as he made his way to the Arlington

International Racecourse main track Friday morning was lightly raced Adelaide.

Strikingly similar in appearance to his older stablemate, Adelaide has never

finished worse than second in five career starts and exits a neck loss in the

Belmont Derby Invitational on July 5. That effort came on a mere 15 days of rest

after a runner-up finish in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot over a

grueling 1 1/2 miles. Under the allowance conditions, Adelaide carries 119

pounds -- including jockey Ryan Moore -- four pounds under the less heralded

trio of stakes winners Global View, General Jack and Divine Oath.

Now owned by the partnership of Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Brous Stable,

the bay sophomore was most recently second in the July 7 Lenebane Stakes at

Roscommon, his last appearance in the Coolmore silks. Expected to show speed in

his American debut for new connections, the Irish-bred's absence now makes

WinStar Farm and Gary Barber's Tourist the lone speed.

Sam-Son Farm's reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Up With the Birds arrived

safely on Friday morning after a somewhat eventful trip from his home base at

Woodbine. The Malcolm Pierce-trained son of Stormy Atlantic was held up at the

border for four hours, but is no worse for the wear. 

"Everything is well," Pierce reported. "He arrived in good order. They were

held up at the border for a couple extra hours, but he handled it just fine.

It's an unfortunate thing, but sometimes that's what happens when you cross the

border. The main thing is that he's here now and has 36 hours to rest before the

race."

Up With the Birds enters a highly contentious renewal of the Arlington

Million as a 6-1 chance, despite his many accomplishments and solid recent form.

Last out, in the Nijinsky Stakes over 1 1/8 miles at Woodbine, he manhandled a

solid field to close his final eighth in less than 12 seconds. On Saturday, he

starts from post 5 under regular jockey Eurico Da Silva.

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