Magician pointed to Arlington Million

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Trainer Aidan O’Brien will have at least one horse for each of the four major stakes races Aug. 16 on the Arlington Million card, and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Magician will head his team, the racing office at Ballydoyle, O’Brien’s training yard in Ireland, confirmed Friday.

Magician, who almost certainly will be favored to win the Million, will be joined by two horses for the Secretariat, Adelaide and Belisarius, with Palace set to run in the Beverly D. and Eye of the Storm in the American St. Leger. Riders for the O’Brien horses have not yet been announced.

The participation of Magician is a coup for the Million and is a logical move by his connections. The 4-year-old Magician ran the best race of his career in his only previous start in North America, finishing with a flourish to beat The Fugue in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita. He was a close, decent sixth at a 1 1/2-mile distance, farther than his best, in the Dubai Sheema Classic but again seemed well suited to a fast-playing, left-handed course such as those in the United States.

Following his Dubai trip, Magician won the Group 3 Mooresbridge, then was second in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s, both over 1 1/4 miles, before checking in sixth July 26 in the 1 1/2-mile King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the major summer middle-distance race in England.

Adelaide should be a formidable entrant in the Secretariat, having just missed winning the $1.25 million Belmont Derby Invitational in his most recent start. The horse who beat him that day, Mr Speaker, could start either in the Secretariat or the Travers Stakes at Saratoga. O’Brien’s other Secretariat runner, Belisarius, is lightly raced and has yet to win a graded stakes.

O’Brien has yet to win the Beverly D., and the 3-year-old Palace will have to reverse modest recent form to break through for the stable. At his best, Eye of the Storm, a 4-year-old, can be a major player in the American St. Leger.

Euro shippers aim for Million card

There are as many as 12 other European horses possible for the Aug. 16 stakes here, though fewer than that figure to ship next weekend from England and France.

The Niarchos family’s Smoking Sun has long been aimed for the Million, but more accomplished is Trading Leather, whose name was thrown into Million consideration late this week by Ireland-based trainer Jim Bolger, according to the International Racing Bureau.

The 4-year-old Trading Leather hasn’t won since he captured the 2013 Irish Derby, but he has acquitted himself admirably while facing top competition in six subsequent starts.

Side Glance, who instead could start in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga, and Grandeur are possible runners, though the presence of Magician and Trading Leather would do little to encourage their connections to take a shot.

Dank, the brilliant winner of the 2013 Beverly D., will not be back to defend her title, and the four overseas horses pointed to the race – Palace, Just the Judge, Euro Charline, and Sparkling Beam – have so far gotten nowhere near Dank’s performance level.

Dandino is expected to return to try to win his second straight American St. Leger. Havana Beat also is probable for that stayers’ race, while Brown Panther is possible.

Flights from England and France are scheduled to arrive Aug. 9 in Chicago.

Real Solution return confirmed

The East Coast contingent for the Million races will include the 2013 Million winner, Real Solution, trainer Chad Brown confirmed Friday. Brown also plans to have two runners, Stephanie’s Kitten and Alterite, in the Beverly D. Stakes.

Bill Mott intends to send Tourist for the Secretariat and Emollient for the Beverly D., though Emollient only will run if the turf course here is dry.

Russell making way back

Jockey Sheldon Russell, out of action five weeks since he was injured in the paddock by an unruly 2-year-old first-time starter at Arlington, is nearing a return to action.

Russell galloped three horses Friday morning, his first time on horseback since he broke a bone in his foot and badly bruised his knee. Russell got out of a walking boot last week and was cleared for horse-related activity by his doctor.

“First day back, it felt pretty good,” Russell said.

Russell was named on one horse Saturday and another Sunday but said he’s not quite ready to ride races yet and is aiming to return next Friday or Saturday.

“I’d like to at least work a couple first,” he said.

Russell won with 20 of his 132 mounts at his first Arlington meet.

At the top of the standings, James Graham and Florent Geroux continue to duel for leading-rider honors. Both jockeys had 55 wins here entering Friday’s action.

– additional reporting by David Grening