Million Preview Day comes up strong

A total of 104 horses were entered Wednesday on an excellent nine-race Million Preview Day card at Arlington.

The program features three Grade 3, $150,000 turf routes – the Arlington Handicap, the Modesty Handicap, and the American Derby – and has the $75,000 Hatoof for 3-year-old fillies as a supporting stakes race. All the races are preps for more major opportunities on the Arlington Million card next month, and top-three finishers in Saturday’s graded races have their Million Day entry fees waived.

The American Derby drew the largest field, with 13 3-year-olds entered in this prep for the Grade 1 Secretariat. Flying Scotsman, who could be favored for Calumet Farm, makes his first start for Kentucky-based trainer Jack Sisterson. Flying Scotsman was trained last year in California by Jerry Hollendorfer and up to his last two published drills, both at Keeneland, was posting timed workouts there. Hollendorfer, in fallout from a spate of California breakdowns over the winter, has been banned from racing horses in his name at all properties owned by The Stronach Group, at New York Racing Association tracks, and most recently at Del Mar. Churchill Downs Inc., which owns Arlington, has issued no directives regarding Hollendorfer-trained runners.

First post for the card is 1:25 p.m. Central, with the four stakes run consecutively beginning in race 5.

◗ Southgate is the likely favorite Friday night at Prairie Meadows in the $70,000 Iowa Stallion Futurity, a 5 1/2-furlong dash that drew 10 entrants. Southgate finished a close third in an unrestricted 2-year-old maiden race June 16 at Prairie Meadows, the best performance put up by any of the six horses that have made a start.

Scott Young trains Southgate and also will send out first-timer Our Vision, whose work pattern suggests he might have talent equal to his uncoupled stablemate.

◗ Prairie Meadows stewards have suspended Canterbury Park-based jockey Eddie Martin three days (July 14, 18, and 19) for careless riding on Winning Number in the July 5 Iowa Derby. Winning Number was disqualified from first to third in the race for interfering with third-place Shang during the stretch run.