Arlington Million: Can Bricks and Mortar Hold it Together?
By: Nicolle Neulist, Blinkers-Off
The centerpiece of the summer meet at Arlington is the Arlington Million: the world's first million-dollar Thoroughbred race when it was inaugurated in 1981. Its first running is commemorated with a statue overlooking the paddock at Arlington Park: a replica of the tight photo finish that went to John Henry over The Bart.
Ten horses, including current turf route division leader Bricks and Mortar and last year's Arlington Million winner Robert Bruce, have entered the Arlington Million. That includes Aidan O'Brien trainee Magic Wand, who is cross-entered between the Million and the Beverly D. Stakes (G1).
The victor's spoils also include a Win, and You're In berth
to the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). To date, one horse has swept that Arlington
Million - Breeders' Cup Turf double: Little Mike, in 2014. However, one other horse won a Breeders' Cup
race after his Million triumph; Steinlen (1989) ended his championship campaign
that year with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).
Taking time off to heal and grow has paid rich dividends for
Bricks and Mortar, who returned from an extended layoff to win an
allowance at Gulfstream in December, and in four starts since has emerged as
the best American turf horse in training.
The jump from that allowance win to the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1)
proved to be the right move, as he finished devastatingly well to finish two
and a half lengths clear of second-place Magic Wand. One can only imagine that he was not fully
tightened for the Muniz (G2), which he won by only a nose, and perhaps closer
to the pace than he would have liked to be.
However, he was back to his devastating self in both the Woodford
Reserve Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill and the Manhattan (G1) at Belmont.
The Manhattan is particularly worth noting since he left Robert
Bruce, who he will face again today, a length and a half behind him, going a
mile and a quarter. They'll meet again
going a mile and a quarter in the Arlington Million, and though Robert Bruce is
a true mile-and-a-quarter horse and a lover of firm footing, Bricks and Mortar
beat him comprehensively enough that it's hard to imagine him turning the
tables. And, in terms of pace? Bricks and Mortar is adaptable enough that it
doesn't look to be a problem. Yes, he
makes his best runs late, but he doesn't have to drop back to the clouds, and
should even get something honest in front of him, given that Hunting Horn
probably goes, and Bandua and Catcho En Die will not likely be too far
back. All in all, often times the best
horse just wins, and Bricks and Mortar is the best horse.
The most intriguing of the new faces is the French shipper:
lightly-raced four-year-old Intellogent.
There are questions, of course, since he has not raced since May, has
not raced outside of France, and he wasn't facing the Enables, and Crystal
Oceans of the world last out in the Prix d'Ispahan (G1). But?
Intellogent finished well outside in that Prix d'Ispahan, suggesting he
can get an advantageous trip from the 9 gate.
He is already a Group 1 winner over firm turf, having won the Prix Jean
Prat (G1) last year. That was at a mile,
but he was beaten less than a length in the Prix du Jockey Club (G1) last year,
going a mile and five sixteenths. None of his European riders make the trip:
but instead, he picks up rider Florent Geroux, who is both familiar with the
Arlington course as well as well proven under the heat and pressure of Million
Day. If he was going to pick up an
American-based rider, no one spells confidence on a big day at Arlington quite
like Florent Geroux.
I had some questions seeing Intellogent out training on
Tuesday morning — it wasn't that he was lethargic, but perhaps the exact
opposite. He was hot, this coiled spring
worth of energy that looked like it could go off at any time. Returning to the track on Wednesday morning
to train, he was still hot, but not quite as hot as he was on Tuesday, and
looked better acclimated. He is a
powerful horse, but Wednesday morning he no longer looked on the brink of
losing control of that power. That's a
good thing, still several days out. Beating
Bricks and Mortar still looks like a tough task, but Intellogent has the most
upside among the ones who are here to try.
The other two major contenders, Robert Bruce, and Magic
Wand are solid horses in their own right, but already have tables to turn on
Bricks and Mortar. Preferred between the pair is Robert Bruce. He won the Million last year and is likely to
get firm ground again this year, something that plays in his favor. This is his perfect distance. In terms of pace, he likely gets the jump on
Bricks and Mortar; it wasn't enough last out in the Manhattan, and if that foe
is on the top of his game it probably will not be enough again, but Robert
Bruce has some upside making his third start of the year and should find the
picture.
As for Magic Wand?
This is certainly the right class for her, a step below the likes of
Enable and Crystal Ocean. But she hasn't
won since the Ribblesdale (G2) at Royal Ascot 2018. She gets her share of underneath finishes at
this kind of level, but that seems to be her more likely ceiling again,
assuming she runs in the Million and not the Beverly D.
Selections:
#3 Bricks and Mortar (8/5)
#9 Intellogent (12/1)
#1 Robert Bruce (7/2)
Longshot:
Among the longer shots in the Arlington Million, it makes sense to look
at one in improving form with the upside to improve further: specifically, #6
The Great Day (12/1). Though Bandua
beat him last out in the Arlington Handicap (G3), it showed that he can handle
the Arlington turf course in broad, sweeping Lane 5. And with Hunting Horn and Catcho En
Die in the picture, The Great Day should have more to chase than he did in
the Arlington Handicap.
Though the Arlington Million is a stiff rise in class from
that race, the Arnaud Delacour trainee has shown in his last two starts that he
has made the transition from Argentina to the United States well. The extra sixteenth of a mile should suit The
Great Day well, given his strong ten-furlong form in Argentina, and he should
be coming on well at the end. If you're
looking for a longshot to sweeten the exotics, look at him.
No comments:
Post a Comment