Arlington Diaries: Wet and Wonderful Million

The Arlington Million is always a highlight of the summer racing season, since the Million is one of four contests on Arlington Park's International Festival of Racing card that attracts top Thoroughbreds the world over. In fact, two of the afternoon’s stakes – the Beverly D. and the Arlington Million – are Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In events, meaning that the victors in the in respective races earn berths to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Arlington Million day isn’t just a destination for fans of top-notch racing; Arlington Park also offers tons of entertainment options for attendees, including a style contest hosted by Fashion at the Races as well as a Party Zone with unlimited beer and food.
I started my day by checking out the fashion scene at the track, and I was in for a treat: Chicagoans brought their style A-game to Arlington Park for Million day. Below is a slideshow of some of the best looks I spotted on Saturday, including the style contest from Fashion at the Races:

The folks at Arlington weren’t going to be outshone on the style front on Saturday: Brian Spencer, who is the Manager of Communications for Arlington International, was rocking an amazing bowtie made of feathers. It was awesome.

I also wandered down to the Party Zone, which is located at the top of the stretch and features an excellent view of horses rounding the final turn for the finish line. The place was packed with revelers enjoying the sunny summer weather on a sensational Saturday afternoon.

I also swung by the America’s Best Racing area, where new horse racing fans gathered to learn about the sport, make some bets and enjoy an afternoon at Arlington Park. The area was sponsored by Team Valor, which is a Thoroughbred ownership syndicate whose horses run all over the world.

In fact, Team Valor had several horses running on Arlington Million day, and the ABR guests had a great time learning about the Thoroughbreds in the time leading up to the stakes races.

Before I knew it, it was time for the major races of the afternoon to begin, so I meandered to the saddling paddock to await the horses scheduled to run in the first stakes race of the day, the Pucker Up Stakes. This is an event for 3-year-old fillies (aka female horses) going a mile and an eighth on the turf, and ten Thoroughbreds were lined up to take a shot at the $100,000 purse. 
As fans, photographers and various media awaited the horses’ arrival to the walking ring, I admired this portrait of hometown hero The Pizza Man, who would run later in the afternoon in the Arlington Million. I asked artist Thomas Pauly for a photo of him next to his fantastic piece, and he happily obliged. 

Moments later, the Pucker Up contenders arrived, and after donning their saddles they made their way to the starting gate on the turf course. 

Very shortly, the Pucker Up runners were in the gate, and moments later the race was on! Longshot Mizz Money lived up to her name by sweeping to the lead mid-race and never looking back, winning the race and rewarding her backers with healthy odds of 14-1.

After Mizz Money got her photo taken in the winner’s circle to commemorate her Pucker Up victory, it was time for the American St. Leger Stakes. This is a test for horses 3 years old and upwards travelling a 1 11/16 miles on the grass. Nine contenders were lined up to compete for the $350,000 purse, and I boogied to the paddock to be sure to see as many of them as possible. 
I’m so glad I did, because one of the horses, Panama Hat, decided to put on a floor show for fans. He merrily kicked up his heels several times as he awaited his jockey Chris Hayes to join him. 

Panama Hat wasn’t actually acting up; the kicks weren’t aimed at anyone and his groom didn’t even seem to mind his antics. It’s just that Panama Hat was excited to get the race underway, and he had a creative outlet to express his eagerness. I like this horse! 
So did the rest of the crowd around the paddock; in the moments leading up to the race, fans gathered around the picturesque Arlington International walking ring to admire Panama Hat and his competition before they headed to the track. 

At this point in the afternoon, the heat was starting to get a little oppressive; and as I made my way to the turf course for the American St. Leger, one of my photographer friends, Jamie, made a flippant comment that it would almost be better if it started raining. You’re going to want to remember this in a few minutes. 
A few minutes later, the photographers were in place and it was time for the American St. Leger to begin. As the horses ran past us for the first time, Alpha Kitten lead the field into the first turn and toward horse racing glory.

But after a lap, the race to the finish line became a battle between my pal Panama Hat and Lucky Speed; the latter prevailed by 3/4 of a length, and as they crossed the wire jockey Andrasch Starke raised his whip in celebration.

The celebration continued as Lucky Speed made his way to the winner’s circle for a garland of flowers, several pats from his loving caretakers and a commemorative photo with his human connections. 

The next race was the Secretariat Stakes, named for the legendary 1973 Triple Crown winner. This test is a 1 1/4 miles turf test for 3-year-olds, and as the seven horses made their way toward the starting gate, it happened: I felt a plop. And then another. Suddenly, some of the biggest raindrops I’ve ever seen started falling from the heavens as the weather took a hard left hand turn in the moments leading up to the Secretariat.

Thanks, Jamie. Thanks a lot. (I kid. Jamie is an awesome person and an incredibly talented photographer, but I’m pretty sure that weather control isn’t in her arsenal.) 
As the horses made their way to the starting gate, the rain really started coming down in buckets. Caught completely unprepared, most of us the photo line hunched over desperately trying to protect their cameras with their bodies as we waited for the race to begin. Fortunately, in just a few minutes the gates for the Secretariat Stakes sprung open, and Highland Reel led the field past the Arlington Park grandstand for the first time.

A lap around the track later, Highland Reel had only increased his lead, and he danced through the rain to an easy win in the Secretariat Stakes.

As soon as he crossed the wire, I ran the tunnel connecting the racetrack to the paddock to try to get some cover. To give you an idea of how much it was raining, here I am with my fellow photographers right after the race:

It’s a glamorous life! 
Since the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In races were about to kick off, Jim Cornelison, a Chicago favorite who regularly sings at Chicago Blackhawk games, was due to sing the national anthem. Showing excellent spirit in less-than-ideal weather, he put on a great show, laughing off the rain with grace. 

After all, the show must go on! 
The horses agreed, and a little bit of a drizzle wasn’t going to stop the Beverly D. runners in their battle for a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. I was hoping to see one of my longtime loves, Stephanie’s Kitten, win this race.

However, she faced a full and competitive field in the Beverly D., and as the fillies and mares made their way through the deluge and toward the starting gate, I knew this would be a hotly contested race.

When the race began, last year’s Beverly D. winner Euro Charline led the field to the first turn.

However, at the top of the stretch it was Secret Gesture romping through the driving rain and to the finish line. 

While she crossed the wire in first place, there was a claim of foul against Secret Gesture, so Secret Gesture and second-place runner Whatsdachances circled outside of the winner’s circle awaiting the judges’ decision. 

The stewards (the name of the racetrack judges) took a lot of time to make their decision, but after several minutes the announcement came that Secret Gesture would be placed in third for interference with Stephanie’s Kitten, making Whatsdachances the winner of the Beverly D. as well as earning her a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Whatsdachances’s owner Pete Bradley (of Bradley Thoroughbreds) embraced trainer Chad Brown as soon as he heard the news, and jockey Joe Bravo was sure to reward his filly with lots of pats as he remounted to make his way to the winner’s circle.

Sometimes I think Mother Nature must be a horse racing fan, because the rain tapered off just in time for the Arlington Million paddock. The runner took to the walking ring as the last drops fell from the heavens, and the crowd returned to the great outdoors to catch sight of their favorite horses. 

Speaking of favorites, The Pizza Man is the darling of Arlington Park, and as he passed by fans in the paddock people called words of support for the gallant gelding.

I was excited to see Triple Threat, the giant dark bay horse I’d fallen in love with on Friday morning. What a handsome Thoroughbred he is! 

As the horses made their way from the paddock to the track for the post parade, the sun finally broke through the clouds to treat fans to a beautiful afternoon for the Arlington Million.

As the horses neared the starting gate, the crowd packed the grandstand, clubhouse and trackside apron to get a view of the Arlington Million. I could hear cheers behind me every time The Pizza Man’s name was mentioned by track announcer John Dooley, and it was awesome to hear the support for the hometown horse at Arlington Park.

Finally, it was time for the Million to kick off. The crowd roared its approval as the Thoroughbreds launched from the gate and around the turf course for the first time with Shining Copper at the front. 

But when the horses turned for home in the Million, I thought the roof was going to come off the place as The Pizza Man fended off a charge from Big Blue Kitten to win the race.

It was pandemonium – and I mean that in the best possible way. Everyone was standing and cheering, and The Pizza Man’s caretakers were jubilant as they awaited their horse near the winner’s circle.

They had a great reason to be happy – in addition to the purse money, the glory of the victory, and the berth to theBreeders’ Cup Turf, The Pizza Man and his jockey Florent Geroux nabbed the amazing Arlington Million trophies, which are some of the most coveted in American turf.

The Pizza Man arrived back at the Arlington Million winner’s circle amid tumultuous applause from the stands; and with the garland of flowers on his neck, The Pizza Man paraded for his fans as jockey Florent Geroux waved to the crowd. 

The pair then entered the winner’s circle, where they united with owners Midwest Thoroughbreds and trainer Roger Brueggemann for a celebration. 

Chicago Bears coaching legend Mike Ditka was on hand to award Midwest Thoroughbreds’ Richard Papiese the owner’s trophy for the Arlington Million, bringing the house down for fans of the tough Illinois-bred gelding and his connections. 

As the sun set over Arlington Park on Saturday evening, I paused for a moment to take in the beauty of Chicago’s grand dame of a racetrack and reflect on the magical Million I had the privilege of watching. I can’t wait to see what The Pizza Man serves up in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on October 31 at Keeneland, as well as the rest of the road to the World Championships as summer’s best horse racing continues to heat up.