Sudan out of Arlington Million

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. The Arlington Million field was reduced to seven and the race lost its likely pacesetter when Sudan was withdrawn from the field with a tendon injury.

Sudan, imported to the United States last year and the fourth-place finisher last month in the Man o War Stakes, arrived here Wednesday on a flight from New York, and galloped over Arlingtons Polytrack on Thursday, but his injury was diagnosed on Friday morning.

"He galloped on the track one day, came up with a tendon the next day," trainer Bobby Frankel said. "Its brutal."

Owned by Gary Tanaka, Sudan is a 5-year-old gelding by Peintre Celebre. He won the Group 1 Premio di Milano in Italy last summer and won the Golden Gate Fields Turf on May 31, his only win in four U.S. starts.

OBrien pair train

Mount Nelson and Plan, the two Aidan OBrien-trained horses here for Saturdays races, trained Friday for the first time since they arrived at Arlington late Tuesday night. Both horses had the same exercise regimen, taking one lap around the Arlington Polytrack at an easy clip.

A controlling interest in Plan, who may be the second choice in the Secretariat Stakes, was purchased earlier this week by the IEAH Stables. After the Secretariat, the colt will remain in the U.S., and will be turned over to trainer Rick Dutrow.

Mount Nelson narrowly won a Group 1 race in England in his most recent start, and made a favorable impression in his brief appearance Friday.