'Chrome' Among Arlington Million Nominees

U.S. Horse of the Year California Chrome and dual champion Main Sequence are among 78 nominations for the Arlington Million (gr. IT), the centerpiece of the International Festival of Racing Aug. 15 at Arlington International Racecourse.

 

The festival also includes the $750,000 Beverly D. (gr. IT) for turf fillies and mares, $500,000 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) for turf 3-year-olds, and $400,000 American St. Leger (gr. IIIT) for turf marathoners.

 

Among the Million nominees are 50 graded or group winners, including 15 grade I or group I winners, headlined by dual classic winner California Chrome, who was the runner-up in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) March 28 and currently is in England preparing for a start in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (Eng-I) June 17 at Royal Ascot. After his European stint, the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Preakness Stakes (both grade I) winner is scheduled to be shipped to the quarantine facility at Arlington, according to owners Steven Coburn and Perry Martin.

 

Joining reigning U.S. champion turf male and older male Main Sequence on the nominations list is Brazilian Triple Crown winner Bal a Bali. 

 

Flaxman Holdings' Main Sequence was under serious consideration for the 2014 Million by trainer Graham Motion, but instead rerouted to Saratoga after European-based Flaxman runner Smoking Sun shipped stateside for the race. Main Sequence won four grade I races in 2014 en route to championship honors and has raced twice in 2015, including a dull seventh last out in the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-I) at Meydan. The son of Aldebaran has since returned to the work tab with two works at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland.

 

Bal a Bali, winner in 12 of 13 career starts, including the 2014 Brazilian Triple Crown, made a winning U.S. debut in the American Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Santa Anita Park for trainer Richard Mandella. Purchased privately with the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) and Million in mind last fall, the son of Put It Back has four group I victories to his credit ranging from one mile to 1 1/2 miles on the turf.

 

The Million also attracted the nominations of past winners Hardest Core (2014) and Little Mike (2012), as well as grade/group I winners Big Blue Kitten, Ganesh, Il Campione, Jack Milton, Just The Judge, Morandi, Ring Weekend, Seek Again, Winning Prize, and 2013 Canadian Horse of the Year Up With the Birds.

 

Other nominees include 2014 American St. Leger winner The Pizza Man, highly regarded Irish-based and group I-placed Fascinating Rock, impressive 2014 Royal Ascot winner Cannock Chase, and California-based multiple grade II winner Ashleyluvssugar.

 

A "Win and You're In" Challenge race, the Million entitles its victor an entry into the 2015 Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland.

 

The 26th running of the Beverly D. at 1 3/16-miles garnered the most nominations of any Festival event—86.  

 

Last year's second- and third-place finishers, Stephanie's Kitten and Just The Judge, mirrored those results in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT), for which the Beverly D. is a "Win and You're In" race. Stephanie's Kitten and Just the Judge headline this year's nominee list along with defending winner Euro Charline.

 

The 39th running of the Secretariat, at 1 1/4 miles, attracted 76 nominees, including grade III Penn Mile winner Force the Pass, as well as multiple stakes winner Divisidero and recent stakes victor Crittenden.

 

The nominee list for the 1 1/16-mile American St. Leger includes defending winner The Pizza Man, grade I-winning globetrotter Sheikhzayedroad, 2014 Belmont Gold Cup winner Charming Kitten, 2013 Kentucky Derby runner-up Golden Soul, Argentine group I winner Ganesh, 2014 third-place finisher Havana Beat, and international fan favorite Red Cadeaux.

 

For a complete list of International Festival of Racing nominations, click here.