The Tin Man returns for back-to-back Millions

The Tin Man will seek to defend his Million title (Four Footed Fotos)

THE TIN MAN (Affirmed) dominated the 2006 running of the Arlington Million

(G1), leading wire to wire under the expert handling of Victor Espinoza, and the

venerable nine-year-old gelding will return to the Chicago oval on Saturday,

attempting to become the first back-to-back winner in the 25-year history of the

1 1/4-mile event.

Not that he needs anymore encouragement, but The Tin Man has added

incentive to get to the wire first on Saturday. The winner of the

Million automatically qualifies to run in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1)

on October 27 at Monmouth Park through the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In," format.

Victor of the Shoemaker Mile Breeders' Cup S. (G1) two starts

back in his 2007 debut and a close second in the American Invitational H. (G2)

last out, The Tin Man will face seven rivals with Espinoza. The Richard Mandella

runner is listed as the 3-1 second choice on the morning line.

AFTER MARKET (Storm Catl) rates early favoritism at 2-1 by virtue of a

three-race winning streak, posting impressive scores in the Inglewood H. (G2),

Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (G1) and Eddie Read H. (G1) most recently.

Trained by John Shirreffs, the flashy four-year-old is the first foal out of

multiple Grade 1 heroine and $1.6 million earner Tranquility Lake (Rahy).

Seven-for-11 overall, After Market has compiled five graded victories. Regular

rider Alex Solis will be up.

Danak suffered his first career loss last out in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Four Footed Fotos)

French Group 3 hero DOCTOR DINO (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]) enters in career-best

form, recording third-place efforts versus top-class rivals in his last two

outings. Third in the Singapore Airlines International Cup S. (Mal-G1) last out,

he finished a close third to Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill) when making his 2007 debut in the Prix Ganay (Fr-G1) at Longchamp. Johnny Murtagh will pick up the mount on the 6-1 fifth

choice for trainer Richard Gibson.

Italian Group 3 winner PRESSING (Ire) (Soviet Star) rounds out the European

contingent. The Michael Jarvis charge will pick up an American rider in David

Flores and is listed at 20-1. The four-year-old colt exits a fifth in the

Prince of Wales's S. (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot.

SUNRIVER (Saint Ballado), who improved to two-for-two on the turf with a

front-running win in the Bowling Green H. (G2) last out, will enter on the

upswing for Todd Pletcher. A full brother to multiple champion Ashado, the

four-year-old colt is the 9-2 third choice on the morning line and will keep

Garrett Gomez in the saddle.

Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Turf S. (G1) king JAMBALAYA (Langfuhr), third

in the Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf S. (Can-G2) at Woodbine most recently, will break from

the rail with Robby Albarado and is 10-1 on the morning line. Next comes

Sunriver; Doctor Dino; After Market; The Tin Man; Pressing; multiple Grade 3

victor STREAM CAT (Black Minnaloushe), Julien Leparoux, 20-1; and Danak.