After Market scratched from Million

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - After Market, the morning-line favorite for the Arlington Million, was scratched Saturday morning because of course conditions deemed unsuitable by his connections, owner Martin Wygod and trainer John Shirreffs.

Arlington's turf course was labeled yielding for Saturday's races, and After Market has raced on firm going in 10 of his 11 starts. His lone try on a wet course resulted in disaster, when After Market finished 10th by almost 40 lengths in the Kent Breeders' Cup last summer at Delaware Park. That race was run on a soft course much boggier than Arlington's this year.

Heavy rain fell at Arlington on numerous occasions during the last week, but Friday was clear and dry, and the sun was out again most of Saturday. Still, the decision was made to pull out After Market, a winner of three straight graded turf stakes in California.

"The horse is doing great," Shirreffs said. "He's just fantastic, but Mr. Wygod recommended that we don't run him on soft ground. I've been out on the course every day since I've been here. It's drying out, but it's not quite fast enough yet."