- Trainer PPs UPDATED
- Sire PPs UPDATED
Handicapping the Million: 2016 Arlington Million Stakes Invaded by Euros looking to benefit from Lasix
The G1 $1 million Arlington Million Stakes is the highlight of the summer for racing fans in Chicago.
When the horses are loaded into the gate on Saturday, it will be the 34th time they’ll do so since the legendary American jockey Willie Shoemaker took the first running in 1981 aboard the equally legendary American runner John Henry for Dotsam Stable and trainer Ron McAnally.
Over the years, the Arlington Million has attracted an equal number of America’s favorite turf specialists, as well as several of Europe’s most dominant turf runners looking to cash in with the added benefit of Lasix.
The 2016 version of the Million will be no different when four of the thirteen scheduled to go postward for the 1 1/4 miles distance have made their way across the Atlantic hoping to take home the $600,000 top prize and a guaranteed spot in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Turf later this year at Santa Anita.
Handicapping the 2016 Arlington Million
Leading the way for the Euro’s as the 7-2 morning line favorite will be the Irish bred Tryster who will be making his first ever start in the U.S. for Godolphin Racing LLC and trainer Charles Appleby.
Tryster is the winner of nine races for more than $1.3 million. And despite having won all nine without the use of Lasix, a third and a fifth place finish in his last two starts may indicate its need.
Deauville, winner of the G1 Belmont Derby in his last start when adding Lasix for trainer Aiden O’Brien, returns with a new rider in Seamie Heffernan as top Euro rider Jamie Spencer who was aboard for the win at Belmont elects to stay home. And it’s never a good sign when the winning rider doesn’t make the return trip. Deauville will again have Lasix and is listed at 6-1.
Mondialiste is the winner of $1.25 million. He won the 2015 G1 Woodbine Mile with Lasix for the first time. And was runner up in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last year. He returns to the states for trainer David O’Meara off of a second place finish at York in the G2 Sky Bet York Stakes going 1 5/16 miles, and will again have the benefit of Lasix. He’s listed at 8-1.
Finally, Decorated Knight has been shipped over by trainer Roger Charlton. He’s a four-year-old son of Galileo who’s won 4 of 10 races for meager earnings of $145,000 competing in Great Britain. He is the lone Euro who will not run on Lasix and is listed at 10-1.
[poll id=”33″]
