Arlington Million: Cape Blanco slight favorite over Gio Ponti

A field of 10, headed by Cape Blanco and Gio Ponti, was entered Tuesday for Saturday’s 29th running of the Arlington Million.

Gio Ponti, trying to win the Million for the second time in three years, and making his third straight appearance in the race, drew post 5 with his regular jockey Ramon Dominguez named to ride. Gio Ponti, however, is the 2-1 second choice on the morning line set by Arlington oddsmaker Joe Kristufek. Cape Blanco, who drew post 7 and will be ridden by Jamie Spencer, was made the 9-5 morning-line favorite, a reasonable choice since Cape Blanco easily handled Gio Ponti when the two met in the Man o’ War Stakes last month.

Mission Approved, the Manhattan Handicap winner, was assigned post 8 and was made the 6-1 third choice. Wigmore Hall, last year’s Secretariat runner-up, is fourth choice at 8-1 and breaks from post 9.

The Arlington Million is a Breeders' Cup Win and You're In race for the BC Turf.

Eleven fillies and mares were entered in the $750,000 Beverly D., in which Stacelita is the 3-1 morning-line favorite. Stacelita, third last out in the United Nations Handicap, drew post 1 and will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez. Overseas shipper River Jetez (post 6, Christophe Soumillon), is the 4-1 second choice, Cheetah (post 7, Garrett Gomez) the 9-2 third choice. The Beverly D. field is deep enough that last year’s winner, Eclaire de Lune, is 12-1 on the morning line.

The Beverly D. is a Breeders' Cup Win and You're In race for the BC Filly and Mare Turf.

The Secretariat is nearly as deep as the Beverly D., and gained star power when Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien entered Treasure Beach. Treasure Beach, narrowly beaten in the English Derby and winner of the Irish Derby, drew post 3 and was made the 2-1 morning-line favorite. Banned, the Virginia Derby runner-up, breaks from post 7 and is the 3-1 second choice, while Willcox Inn, trying for a sweep of Arlington’s Mid-America Triple, was assigned post 9 and is third choice at 9-2.

Arlington Million
Purse: $1 million; 1 1/4 miles (turf); Grade 1
1 Rahystrada S. Russell 12-1
2 Tajaaweed J. Graham 12-1
3 Dean’s Kitten J. Leparoux 30-1
4 Zack Hall C. Soumillon 10-1
5 Gio Ponti R. Dominguez 2-1
6 Proceed Bee C. Emigh 50-1
7 Cape Blanco J. Spencer 9-5
8 Mission Approved J. Espinoza 6-1
9 Wigmore Hall H. Turner 8-1
10 General Perfect G. Gomez 50-1
 
Beverly D.
Purse:  $750,000, 1 3/16 miles (turf); Grade 1
1 Stacelita R. Dominguez 3-1
2 Check the Label J. Leparoux 20-1 
3 Fantasia R. Maragh 6-1
4 Upperline J. Graham 20-1
5 Dubawi Heights J. Rosario 10-1
6 River Jetez C. Soumillon 4-1
7 Cheetah G. Gomez 9-2
8 Pachattack F. Geroux 10-1
9 Eclair de  Lune J. Alvarado 12-1
10 Romin Robin J. Santana 30-1
11 Never Retreat S. Bridghmohan 10-1
 
Secretariat Stakes
Purse: $400,000, 1 1/4 miles (turf); Grade 1
1 Newsdad J. Rosario 10-1
2 Ziyarid C. Lemaire 10-1
3 Treasure Beach C. O’Donoghue 2-1
4 Crimson China R. Maragh 15-1
5 Casino Host R. Dominguez 8-1
6 Suntracer S. Bridgmohan 15-1
7 Banned G. Gomez 3-1
8 Derby Kitten J. Leparoux 15-1
9 Willcox Inn R. Albarado 9-2
10 L’Aiglon  F. Geroux 50-1