Arlington Diaries: A Midwestern Highlight

Million Preview Day at Arlington Park is one of the highlights of the Midwest racing calendar. Four graded stakes headline the card, each with qualification implications for the major stakes held on Arlington Million Day.
Not only is it a great day of racing, but it’s also a foodie’s paradise. On Saturday, Arlington celebrated Million Preview Day and its third annual Food Truck Festival, which I checked out as soon as I arrived on the scene.

Over 16 food trucks packed the park and the parking lot. They were vending everything from lobster rolls and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches to cupcakes. As an intern for Arlington in 2013, I was in charge of organizing the inaugural edition of the event. To see how much it has grown in just two years had me feeling like a proud papa.

I opted for Indian from the “OMango” truck. It was delightful! The chicken curry was very spicy, which got me sweaty on an already balmy day at the track. Probably not the brightest decision! Alas, onto the action on the track …
The Grade 3 American Derby, a grass race for three year olds, kicked off the stakes action on Saturday. Here’s a look at the favorite World Approval’s “game face” in the paddock. He went onto win the race and earned a spot in the Secretariat Stakes on Million Day.

Fans of all ages packed the Park for the racing action. It’s always great to see father and son soaking in the races! It makes me reminisce how I learned the game.

The highlight of the card was the Arlington Handicap. The top three finishers of this event gained automatic entry in the Arlington Million.
Up With the Birds is as impressive at it can get in person and on paper. The 2013 Canadian Horse of the Year looked primed in the paddock with Drayden VanDyke aboard.

“Team Chrome” - his groom Raul Rodriguez (left) and exercise rider Anna Wells - was spotted in the crowd, presumably scouting out California Chrome’s potential competition in the Arlington Million. They both spoke about how impressed they were by the facilities and how they looked forward to training the 2014 Horse of the Year here over the next month.

A mild longshot, Quiet Force, was able to pull away from the pack down the stretch. Jockey Julien Leparoux and his connections were ecstatic!

Some rain began to fall, which had me and my camera ducking for cover during the Modesty Handicap, a graded stake for fillies and mares. However, the showers subsided just in time for the saddling for the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes Stakes. Run at 1 ½ miles, it’s quite the route.

Above is The Pizza Man. The Illinois-bred gelding is Arlington’s hometown hero and his fans were cheering him on as he walked around the paddock. The Pizza Man remained as cool as a cucumber amongst the fanfare.

His calm demeanor paid off as the even-money favorite ran beautifully off the pace and just held on over Roman Approval at the wire.
After the race, The Pizza Man got a well-deserved wash down from jockey Florent Geroux, who had just won his fourth race of the day.

Despite a little rain, it was a great day at the track. If you have not been, I highly recommend trying to make it out to Arlington in the near future, there’s not a bad spot to catch the races from at this place!