There are plenty of chances in the 11-horse field for Saturday’s Arlington Million which, after a year at Churchill Downs, will this year be taking place at Colonial Downs, Virginia.
Five currently have odds in the single figures with bet365 for the 1 mile 2 furlong Grade 1, but the shortest price of those is Atone at 4.00.
The six-year-old made a great start to 2023 by winning the Grade 1 World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park but has failed to back that up with two poor showings since, most recently only fifth of seven in a Grade 3 at Pimlico.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: August 10th, 10:00 P.M. (BST)
This will be his first test over this distance for Michael J. Maker; Kendrick Carmouche won his only previous ride on him.
Looking to take fifty percent of the $1 million prize money is 6.00 shot Set Piece, trained by Brad H. Cox.
Fourth in last year’s race, the seven-year-old was also fourth in the Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland. This year, he has one victory under Saturday’s jockey Florent Geroux, though last time out was a third in the Wise Dan Stakes at Ellis Park.
Trainer Chad C. Brown is looking for his fifth Arlington Million triumph in 10 years and in Rockemperor (6.50) he has every chance.
John Velazquez will be taking his first ride on the seven-year-old in almost three years and a quick improvement is needed after he was ninth of ten in the Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park last time out.
Should Rockemperor not rediscover his form then Brown will have to rely on his other 6.50 shot, Adhamo.
However, Flavien Prat’s mount has also been in a sticky patch; eighth in the Sword Dancer and sixth in the Joe Hirsch. Those races are longer than Saturday’s contest and second in the Manhattan Stakes recently suggests the drop back to this distance will help.
Last year’s winner, Santin, is at 9.00 and will team up again with jockey Tyler Gaffalione. The five-year-old is yet to win since, never bettering fourth in six outings at various grades.
At 10.00 is Never Explain, who will be stepping up to Grade 1 company for the first time. Third in the Group 2 Bowling Green Stakes last month, he will be ridden by Vincent Cheminaud for the first time.
Catnip (11.00) beat Never Explain in June’s Monmouth Stakes before coming second in the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes three weeks ago. Master Piece (13.00) has never shown great form at this level, while Strong Quality (15.00) was fifth in the Manhattan.
Strong Tide (26.00) and Win For The Money (34.00) cannot be completely discounted.
