Secretariat entrant Black Bear Island making his final start for O'Brien
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from the Racing Post:
Preview: USA, Saturday (9.05pm BST)
Arlington Park: Secretariat Stakes (Grade 1)1m2f, turf, 3yo
JOHNNY MURTAGH dashes to Chicago on Saturday in search of a Grade 1 success on Black Bear Island, who is making his final start for Aidan O'Brien before continung his career in the US in the Secretariat Stakes.
Ireland enjoyed a one-two last year in the $400,000 event, one of two Grade 1 events on the Arlington Million support card, when the Dermot Weld-trained Winchester scored a runaway victory over Ballydoyle's Plan.
Hopes are high that Black Bear Island can go one better on Saturday, and thereby emulate Ciro, who took the race for O'Brien in 2000.
The son of Sadler's Wells colt won the Totesport Dante before finishing down the field in the Investec Derby and claiming third place in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and then disappointing at Longchamp.
Now he returns to the 1m2f trip of his Dante success. "Ten furlongs is probably his best trip if there is plenty ofpace on for him," O'Brien told At The Races.
"He is a horse who likes a flat track and an even gallop, which is what he got at Yorkin the Dante, which was probably his best performance. We think he will do well over there."
Black Bear Island's rivals include former Kevin Prendergast-trained Driving Snow (Darrin Miller/Fernando Jara) who beat him at The Curragh last year before leaving Irelandfor America.
That race was to gain notoriety as the only race ever lost by Sea The Stars, who finished fourth.
Also on Saturday
Arlington Park: Beverly D Stakes (Grade 1) 1m1f, turf, 3yo+ f/m (9.52pmBST)
Although Dermot Weld has enjoyed plenty of success at Arlington over the years, he has never won the Beverly D.
On Saturday he rates the chances of Mad About You, the mount of Pat Smullen in the $750,000 contest.
"This is very nice filly - she's very consistent," said the trainer.
"She finished a good third in her last start at The Curragh and also ran a good race before in May.
"My horses tend to lay close to the pace, so I'm not really concerned about her having to make up a whole bunch of ground late.
"What we need is some rain before the race. My filly likes to run over ground with some give to it. She doesn't run her best when the ground is too hard for her."
Christophe Soumillon is on hand to partner the Aga Khan's Alnadana for Alain de Royer-Dupre. The five-year-old, easy winner of a Group 3 at Maisons-Laffitte last time out, is joined by compatriot Denomination, a fellow Group 3 winner whose trainer Criquette-Head Maarek won the race in 1994 with the top-class Hatoof, who already hada 1,000 Guineas, Champion Stakes and Canadian International on her cv.
The home team is headed by Californian shipper Black Mamba (John Sadler/Garrett Gomez) and likely favourite Pure Clan (Bob Holthus/Julien Leparoux), who won thecourse-and-distance trial four weeks ago.
Preview: USA, Saturday (9.05pm BST)
Arlington Park: Secretariat Stakes (Grade 1)1m2f, turf, 3yo
JOHNNY MURTAGH dashes to Chicago on Saturday in search of a Grade 1 success on Black Bear Island, who is making his final start for Aidan O'Brien before continung his career in the US in the Secretariat Stakes.
Ireland enjoyed a one-two last year in the $400,000 event, one of two Grade 1 events on the Arlington Million support card, when the Dermot Weld-trained Winchester scored a runaway victory over Ballydoyle's Plan.
Hopes are high that Black Bear Island can go one better on Saturday, and thereby emulate Ciro, who took the race for O'Brien in 2000.
The son of Sadler's Wells colt won the Totesport Dante before finishing down the field in the Investec Derby and claiming third place in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and then disappointing at Longchamp.
Now he returns to the 1m2f trip of his Dante success. "Ten furlongs is probably his best trip if there is plenty ofpace on for him," O'Brien told At The Races.
"He is a horse who likes a flat track and an even gallop, which is what he got at Yorkin the Dante, which was probably his best performance. We think he will do well over there."
Black Bear Island's rivals include former Kevin Prendergast-trained Driving Snow (Darrin Miller/Fernando Jara) who beat him at The Curragh last year before leaving Irelandfor America.
That race was to gain notoriety as the only race ever lost by Sea The Stars, who finished fourth.
Also on Saturday
Arlington Park: Beverly D Stakes (Grade 1) 1m1f, turf, 3yo+ f/m (9.52pmBST)
Although Dermot Weld has enjoyed plenty of success at Arlington over the years, he has never won the Beverly D.
On Saturday he rates the chances of Mad About You, the mount of Pat Smullen in the $750,000 contest.
"This is very nice filly - she's very consistent," said the trainer.
"She finished a good third in her last start at The Curragh and also ran a good race before in May.
"My horses tend to lay close to the pace, so I'm not really concerned about her having to make up a whole bunch of ground late.
"What we need is some rain before the race. My filly likes to run over ground with some give to it. She doesn't run her best when the ground is too hard for her."
Christophe Soumillon is on hand to partner the Aga Khan's Alnadana for Alain de Royer-Dupre. The five-year-old, easy winner of a Group 3 at Maisons-Laffitte last time out, is joined by compatriot Denomination, a fellow Group 3 winner whose trainer Criquette-Head Maarek won the race in 1994 with the top-class Hatoof, who already hada 1,000 Guineas, Champion Stakes and Canadian International on her cv.
The home team is headed by Californian shipper Black Mamba (John Sadler/Garrett Gomez) and likely favourite Pure Clan (Bob Holthus/Julien Leparoux), who won thecourse-and-distance trial four weeks ago.