Adelaide shows good form for Secretariat Stakes
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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Even when he has lost, Adelaide has run well, and if Adelaide runs his race Saturday at Arlington, he looks unlikely to lose the Grade 1, $500,000 Secretariat Stakes.
Adelaide has won twice in Ireland, finished second in France and England, and most pertinently to the Secretariat, was second July 5 in the $1.25 million Belmont Derby Invitational. There, Adelaide took the lead in midstretch but was run down and beaten a neck by Mr Speaker, a likely starter in the Travers Stakes.
Adelaide has decent pace, shipping experience, is ridden by the world-class Ryan Moore, and is trained by Aidan O’Brien, a two-time Secretariat winner who could have a huge day with Magician in the Arlington Million and Eye of The Storm in the American St. Leger Stakes. If Adelaide has an unappealing quality, it is that his odds will be short Saturday.
Adelaide is one of nine 3-year-olds entered in the 1 1/4-mile Secretariat, but Can’thelpbelieving will be scratched. Race 8 of 12 on an excellent Million Day card, the Secretariat is the second leg of a 50-cent pick four with a $200,000-guaranteed pool and the first leg of a 50-cent pick five with a $100,000 guarantee.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Adelaide. Trainer Aidan O’Brien is 1 for 9 with a $0.68 ROI over the past five years with horses running on Lasix for the second time.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Belisarius, a second O’Brien horse who will stay in the United States after this race, gets blinkers added and might have the best chance of keeping the speedy Tourist honest on the lead. The 5-2 second choice, Tourist has gone 3 for 3 on grass but has yet to try a graded stakes.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Belisarius. Trainer Aidan O’Brien is 7 for 32 with a $3.34 ROI over the past five years with horses running on Lasix for the first time.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
The field includes Divine Oath, who shot through an inside gap and won the American Derby here last month for trainer Todd Pletcher. General Jack, a cruising winner of the $204,000 Centaur Stakes at Indiana Grand, could press the pace or stalk but will be tested for quality and stamina.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 General Jack. Trainer Michael Maker is 5 for 12 with a $2.83 ROI over the past year in turf routes following a winning effort and a layoff of between 31 and 44 days.Click for more details. – Dan Illman
Two improving closers could factor. Sheldon finished fifth in the Belmont Derby but had traffic trouble and came home well. The lightly raced Highball adds blinkers after coming in late for third in the American Derby.
Key contenders
Adelaide (Last Beyer: 95)
* Already showed he can ship and run well. Lacks an explosive kick but stays the distance and has plenty of quality.
* Has yet to race on a firm course and would benefit if rain comes Saturday.
Tourist (Last 3 Beyers: 103-98-83)
* Is 3 for 3 on turf and has handled progressively more challenging competition with aplomb.
* A pure front-runner, Tourist has galloped his rivals into submission in his last two starts. He has shown the ability to set a strong pace and finish, but only at distances up to 1 1/16 miles.
“He’s got good early speed, but he doesn’t seem to do it running away,” said trainer Bill Mott. “He’s aggressive, but he’s manageable.”
* Mott said he has no idea if Tourist can stay 1 1/4 miles.
“It looks like he galloped out well after his mile race,” said Mott.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 9 Tourist. Trainer Bill Mott is 2 for 17 with a $0.50 ROI over the past four years in Grade 1 turf routes following a winning effort.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Global View (Last 3 Beyers: 85-89-91)
* This son of Galileo did not appear to show his best while trying this 1 1/4-mile distance at Belmont, but on pedigree, he should love the trip.
* Has shipped for his last two starts but has been based at Arlington all summer and runs at his home course Saturday.
* Worked on Polytrack before the Belmont Derby but has breezed only on turf since that race and has done most of his daily training on Arlington’s dirt training track. Might be coming into this race in better form.