Plenty of elite races to watch during Arlington Park's International Festival of Racing
Sure, the showcase event on Saturday at Arlington Park's International Festival of Racing is the Arlington Million.
But trainer Chris Block is hardly complaining that his only starter will participate in the Grade I Secretariat Stakes to face 12 other 3-year olds on Saturday.
"The Million is great, the Beverly D is great, but I have always had a strong feeling for the Secretariat," Block said. "He was my favorite racehorse of all time, and just running in a race with his name on it makes me proud."
Block hopes he will be proud of his entrant, Captivating Moon, who will start from post No. 7 as a 20-1 longshot. The son of Malibu Moon was second to Real Story (also 20-1 in the morning line) in the American Derby on July 7.
"My goal way back in the spring was to eventually get to this race because I thought the 1¼ miles was a distance he would like," Block said.
"Even though he went off the favorite (3-2) in the American Derby, he did make up quite a bit of ground. Ignacio's (Correas) horse (Real Story) ran a big race. He got up there and cut out some nice fractions and went on. But we were closing strong and I think it was a good set up for this race."
The next stakes win for Block will make Arlington history. He is tied with the late Harry Trotsek for the most stakes victories (44) at Arlington.
"If it does happen at any time, it will be a very happy moment for me. Harry Trotsek is a legend around here and so respected by everyone I've ever talked to," Block said. "To be mentioned in the same breath as him makes this an achievement I am very proud of."
Block faces a talented field that includes trainer Chad Brown's Analyze, listed as the morning line favorite.
From the rail out, the field includes Real Story (20-1), Platinum Warrior (10-1), Bandua (20-1), Carrick (20-1), Pont Du Gard (30-1), Ming (20-1), Capitivating Moon (20-1), Untamed Domian (5-1), Anaylze It (2-1), Sniper Kitten (12-1), Dubby Dubbie (20-1) and Lucius Tiberius (12-1) and Hunting Horn (7-2)
"When you stack it, up those two outside horses coming out of the Belmont Derby - Analyze It and Hunting Horn - probably look the most solid," Block said. "Outside of that, it's a pretty well-matched group of good 3-year-old colts."
Block believes his horse should relish the distance, and there will be one new twist.
"We're going to add blinkers," the Champaign native said. "He gets a little sloppy when he puts in his runs. He sometimes swaps leads and I don't know if it's because of a loss of focus. I'm hoping with the blinkers, they keep him more zeroed in."
Block believes his horse ready. Florent Geroux will ride the colt, who has placed in the money in all six starts this season, including three stakes.
Analyze It has 4 wins and 2 seconds in 6 starts, rolling to wins of 4 lengths or more in his first three starts including a 6¼-length maiden special weight win at Belmont Park last October. His jockey, Jose Ortiz, led Oscar Performance to win in last year's Secretariat.
Trainer Chad Brown is looking for his second win in the Secretariat. In 2016, he won with Beach Patrol, who capture last year's Million.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien, who sends out Irish breds Hunting Horn and Lucius Tiberius, won with Ciro (2000), Treasure Beach (GB) (2011), Adelaide (2014) and Highland Reel (2015). The Secretariat Stakes is the ninth race with an approximate post time of 4:48 p.m.
Beverly D:
With four starters in the 29th running of the Beverly D., trainer Chad Brown is seeking an unprecedented fourth straight win and fifth overall in the race for fillies and mares.
Brown won with Watsdachances (2015), French-bred Sea Calisi (2016) and Chiliean-bred Dacita last year. He also scored in 2011 with French-bred Stacelita (FR).
His four starters this year are Irish-bred Sistercharlie (9-5 favorite), Fourstar Crook (9-2), Inflexibilty (8-1) and French-bred Thais (30-1).
Trainer Aidan O'Brien, with four Secretariat victories and two Million wins, has never captured a Beverly D. He will try this season with Athena, listed at 3-1. The Beverly D. will be her ninth start in only four months for the 3-year-old filly.
Daddys Lil Darling was third in the Grade II New York Handicap at Belmont Park behind Fourstar Crook and Sistercharlie before winning the Grade III Modesty.
European invader Nyaleti won the German 1,000 Guineas at Düsseldorf UB May by 4¼ lengths when going a mile.
Trainer Igancio Correas' Argentina-bred Dona Bruja finished in a dead-heat for second in last year's Beverly D. falling by a half length to Dacita. She gets current Arlington leading rider Jose Valdivia, Jr.
Dona Bruja scored a 4-length victory in the Grade III Endeavor Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs this season. Rounding out the field is 50-1 longshot Oh So Terrible, the only Beverly D. contender who has won twice at Arlington (maiden and allowance wins last summer).
The Beverly D. is the 10th race with an approximate post time of 5:25 p.m.
Out of Million: Trainer Kelly Rubley's Divisidero, who had drawn the No. 4 post for the Arlington Million at Tuesday's draw and was listed at 10-1 in the morning line, will not run at Arlington Park on Saturday, according to a Daily Racing Form report. The 6-year-old has been rerouted to Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga. The field for the 36th Million now stands at 10.