Mondialiste wins 34th Arlington Million in thrilling fashion
With owners Geoff and Sandra Turnbull watching by satellite in Cannes, France, their 6-year-old Irish-bred Mondialiste gave them the thrill of a lifetime on Saturday in Arlington Heights.
Mondialiste took full of opportunity of what jockey Daniel Alexander Tudhope described as a perfect trip and charged past the leaders in the final sixteenth to win the 34th running of the 1¼ Arlington Million at Arlington International Racecourse.
Nick Turnbull phoned his parents from Arlington shortly after they won their biggest race in the United States.
"They had the same reaction as me," Nick said after Mondialiste stopped the timer in 2:01.87 over a firm turf course. "They were jumping for joy and crying on the phone."
The Turnbulls' trainer David O'Meara acquired the son of Galileo in July 2014.
"He was group placed and they were looking for a good horse," O'Meara said. "He was for sale so we bought him."
It turned out to be the buy of a lifetime as Mondialiste earned nearly $1 million in 2015 and now has more than $600,280 in 2016.
Take the Stand, an 11-1 longshot who finished last, led all the way to the stretch before being overtaken by Deauville, who was trying to become the first winner of the Million from post No. 13.
But Mondialiste was gaining steam five wide under Tudhope and got up in time by a neck over the fast-closing Argentina-bred Kasaqui (12-1) while Deauville (7-1) was another neck back in third.
Greengrassofyoming (47-1) was fourth followed by Danish Dynaformer and local favorite and defending champ The Pizza Man, who was sixth by less than 3 lengths under jockey Mike Smith.
Favorite World Approval, with jockey Florent Geroux having ridden the previous three Festival winners on Saturday (American St. Leger, Secretariat and Beverly D.), was seventh, just a neck behind The Pizza Man.
Mondialiste paid $10.80 to win as the third betting choice.
"He was too far back, but it's OK," said Chicagoan Rich Papiese, the owner of The Pizza Man. "As long as he is sound, everything is good. There was nothing wrong with the ride. It was just one of those things."
Papiese said he learned his 7-year-old gelding wants more ground.
"He lost by only two or three lengths," Papiese said. "He looks like his distance is 1½-miles and beyond. There are plenty of those races toward the end of the year. I don't want to sound like Brett Favre but we'll finish out the year and then decide what we'll do with him."
What Mondialiste did was become the second horse to win the Million from post No. 9. and gave Tudhope the biggest win of his career.
The 30-year old will go back to work Monday at Thirsk Racecourse in North Yorkshire, England after guiding Mondialiste for the seventh time (first in the United States) since April 29, 2015.
"This was probably the best he's been since I've been on him," Tudhope said. "To be honest, things could not have worked out more prefect. We went over the race so many times before hand, but you just don't know how it's going to go.
"Everyone back home in the yard works so hard and they deserve this just as much as we do," Tudhope added. "Hats off to everyone in the yard. It's an amazing feeling."
Geoff Turnbull is a retired engineer who opened Elwick Stud Farm near Hartelpool in the United Kingdom last year. It has facilities for 70 horses.
His current pride and joy, Mondialiste, will probably run next in the Breeders' Cup Mile according to Nick Turnbull.
"He (Geoff) puts so much work into this," Nick said.
It certainly paid off on Saturday on the biggest day of thoroughbred racing in Illinois.