Arlington Million: The Pizza Man looks to deliver again

When The Pizza Man thrilled the local fan base with his history-making victory in the 2015 Arlington Million, he began his magical triumph wearing saddle cloth No. 7.

He gave that post position its seventh win in Arlington's annual summer showcase event, tying the No. 1 post.

When the 7-year-old gelding tries for more history with a win in Saturday's 34th Million, he will have a new post: No. 5.

But he'll have the same number of rivals. For the second straight year a field of 13 will seek the $1 million purse and a chance to qualify for the Breeders Turf.

The Pizza Man became the first Illinois bred to win the Million last year and will try to become the race's first back-to-back winner.

"I hope the field stays with 13 horses," said trainer Roger Brueggemann, whose Work all Week won the 2014 Breeders Cup Sprint at Santa Anita wearing saddle cloth No. 13. "Thirteen has always seemed to be my lucky number."

Saturday's Grade I $700,000 Beverly D. Million features 14 fillies and mares, while the Grade III American St. Leger will have 11 runners and the Grade I $400,000 Secretariat nine.

"We are always very excited for Million week, but even more so this year," said Howard Sudberry, Arlington's senior director of marketing and communications. "The fields for the big stakes races are very talented, deep and feature full fields, which is great for the bettors."

Five times in the past, the Million has fielded 14 horses.

"When you think of all the big races going on in Europe now, to have 11 horses come here for these four races is a (heck) of a compliment to the United States and Arlington International Racecourse," said Nick Clark, the former chief executive for the International Racing Bureau.

From the rail out with trainer, jockey and morning listed, the Million field includes: Danish Dynaformer (Roger Attffield, Patrick Husbands, 30-1); Dubai Sky (Bill Mott, Jose Lezcano, 30-1); Greengrassofyoming (Michael Maker, Shaun Bridgmohan, 30-1); Pumpkin Rumble (Gary Scherer, Mitchell Murrill, 30-1); The Pizza Man (Roger Brueggemann, Mike Smith, 10-1); Kasaqui (Igancio Correas IV, Robby Albarado, 20-1); Take The Stand (Bill Mott, Edgar Prado, 15-1); Decorated Knight (Roger Charlton, Jose Valdivia, 10-1); Mondialiste (David O'Meara, Daniel Alexander Tudhope, 8-1); Wake Forest (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat, 5-1); World Approval (Mark Casse, Florent Geroux, 4-1); favored Tryster (Charles Appleby, William Buick, 7-2); and Deauville (Aidan O'Brien, Seamie Heffernan, 6-1).

More than half of the horses were bred outside the country: Deauville (Ireland), Decorated Knight (England), Kasaqui (Argentina), Take The Stand (Argentina) Mondialiste Ireland), Tryster (Ireland).

It will be the first Million for Arlington top riders Valdivia (72 wins) and Murrill (49).

"It's really exciting," said the 21-year-old Murrill, who played high school football and soccer and ran cross country in Alabama. "A lot of people never get this opportunity. It's a real pleasure to ride for these people (Pumpkin Rumble's owners Al and Bill Ulwelling and trainer Gary Scherer)."

Sitting fourth most of the way, Pumpkin Rumble finished third by only a head in the Stars and Stripes on July 9 at Arlington.

"We'll probably look for the same position (in the Million), kind of let him settle in, get him comfortable and then let him run at the end," Murrill said. "The post is perfect."

Beverly D field:

The Beverly D field (from the rail out) includes: Ireland-bred Ballydoyle (Aidan O'Brien, Siemie Heffernan, 9-2); Al's Gal (Michael Maker, Corey Lanerie, 30-1); French-bred Marypop (Mike Stidham, Flavien Prat, 30-1); No Fault of Mine (Chris Block, William Buick, 30-1); Irish-bred Tuttipaesi (Bill Mott, Christopher DeCarlo, 20-1); Irish-bred Coolmore (Adian O'Brien, Colm O'Donoghue, 6-1); Lots o' Lex (Gerald Russel Aschinger, Edgar Perez, 30-1); Personal Diary (Victoria Oliver, Mike Smith, 30-1); Zipessa (Mike Stidham, Joe Bravo, 15-1); Secret Someone (Mike Stidham, Robby Albarado, 30-1); Irish-bred Elusive Million (Chad Brown, Julio Felix, 30-1); Irish-bred Faufiler (Graham Motion, Jose Valdivia, 6-1); favored French-bred Sea Calisi (Chad Brown, Florent Geroux, 7-5) and Pretty Girl (Mike Delzangles, Brice Blanc, 15-1).

Secretariat field:

From the rail out, the field includes: Cherry Wine (Dale Romans, Mike Smith, 12-1); American Patriot (Todd Pletcher, William Buick, 5-1); Scissors and Tape (Michael Maker, Shaun Bridgmohan, 30-1); One Mean Man (Bernard Flint, Robby Albarado, 12-1); Cordon (Pavel Vashchenko, Carlos Marquez, Jr., 30-1); Oscar Nominated (Michael Maker, Corey Lanerie, 12-1); Surgical Strike (Ben Colebrook, Flavien Prat, 9-2); Long Island Sound (Aidan O'Brien, Seamie Heffernan, 5-2); and favored Beach Patrol (Chad Brown, Florent Geroux, 2-1).

American St. Leger field:

In post position order, the field includes: Generous Kitten (Michael Maker, Robby Albarado, 6-1); Irish-bred Montclair (Roger Brueggemann, Mike Smith, 15-1); Hart Hills Road (Mike Campbell, Mitchell Murrill, 30-1); Tobias (Rafael Fernandez, Jesus Bracho, 30-1); favored Da Big Hoss (Michael Maker, Florent Geroux, 9-5); Wasir (Andreas Wohler; William Buick, 12-1); Rocket Professor (Michael Maker, Shaun Bridgmohan, 30-1), Clondaw Warrior (William Mullins, Seamie Heffernan, 9-2); German-bred Messi (Graham Motion, Jose Valdivia, 5-1); Morocco-bred Billabong (Pascal Bary, Flavien Prat 10-1); and O'Prado Ole (Dale Romans, Corey Lanerie, 12-1).