Slumber will point to Arlington Million

ELMONT, N.Y. – Slumber, who finally broke through to capture his first graded stakes when he won the Grade 1 Manhattan last weekend at Belmont Park, will be pointed to the Grade 1 Arlington Million on Aug. 15, trainer Chad Brown said Thursday.

Brown said he would consider running Slumber once before the Arlington Million, perhaps in the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park on July 5.

Slumber had lost 10 consecutive races before the Manhattan, four since being acquired at auction by a group headed by Michael Dubb and turned over to Brown.

Brown said Slumber had been a victim of bad racing luck and tough trips and that the addition of blinkers played a role in his turning it around in the Manhattan.

“The addition of blinkers really helped this horse, I believe,” Brown said. “He had a beautiful trip from a fair post. He had given us indications in the morning he was capable of running a really big race, and he did on Saturday.”

Brown said that Big Blue Kitten, second in the Manhattan, is a candidate for the United Nations as well.

Stephanie’s Kitten, fourth in the Grade 2 New York Stakes on June 5, will likely make her next start in the Grade 1 Diana on July 25. Stephanie’s Kitten finished third in the 2013 Diana and second in last year’s Diana.