Lady Jane Digby victorious at Munich

Lady Jane Digby won herself a virtually all expenses paid trip to Chicago for the Arlington Million on Sunday when she won the $200,000, Group 1 Bayerisches Zuchtrennen at Munich, one of two European races dubbed a “win-and-you’re-in” event into the Million. A 5-year-old mare trained by Mark Johnston, Lady Jane Digby took the measure of eight opponents, seven of them males, in the 1 1/4-mile race, defeating the filly Night Magic by a length.

Among the vanquished were Godolphin’s 1.90-1 favorite Alexandros in third place, 1 1/2 lengths behind Night Magic, and the 3.10-1 Querari, whose Million hopes came to a crashing end as he trailed in last. The winning time on soft ground was 2:09.70.

After breaking on top under Greg Fairley, the 11.10-1 Lady Jane Digby was taken back to third before regaining the lead at the three-sixteenths pole. Owner Kirsten Rausing is expected to take advantage of Arlington’s offer of complimentary entry fees, plus the $25,000 any unplaced foreign-trained horse receives for running in the Million.

Lady Jane Digby would be joined in the Million by the Godolphin-owned Allybar, who has been confirmed as a starter after his third-place finish in the Group 2 York Stakes on Saturday. Meld Stakes winner Famous Name remains on the Million fence, as he is also being considered for the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Aug. 15. Tazeez , third in the Prince of Wales, is a likely Million starter at this date, while Debussy, fourth in the York Stakes, is a possibility.

The other “win-and-you’re-in” Million race was the Eclipse Stakes, but its winner, Twice Over, has passed on the honor. Saturday’s 1 1/4-mile, Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood is a “win-and-you’re-in” contest for the Beverly D.