Oscar Performance: One for the Million

The Arlington Million (G1T), the world's first $1 million Thoroughbred race when John Henry edged The Bart in 1981, has built a rich and diverse history in 34 subsequent runnings—a narrative set to add another chapter Aug. 11 at the suburban Chicago oval.

The purse has long been eclipsed on the worldwide stage. But the aura of the race itself and the attraction of Arlington International Racecourse's lush turf and plush facilities continue to attract more than enough worldwide participation to justify its starring role in the track's "International Festival of Racing."

This year's chapter in the Million saga could feature a third trophy for Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien. Or the lead could be the fifth horse to win the Secretariat Stakes (G1T) for 3-year-olds in last year's festival, then go on to victory in the Million the following year.

Or, it could be about a horse claimed for $40,000 this year. That sounds like a bargain, but it would be far from unprecedented. Sam and Dorothy Rubin bought John Henry for $25,000 well before he went on become the only two-time Million winner—and the only one to have a life-size bronze statue, titled "Against All Odds," overlooking the Arlington paddock.

Whichever of the 11 that leads them home takes not only the winner's share of the purse but also a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" spot in the Nov. 3 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Churchill Downs.

Oscar Performance, a 4-year-old Kitten's Joy  colt owned by Amerman Racing Stables and bred by Mrs. Jerry Amerman, will attempt to complete the Secretariat-Million "double" from the outside post with Jose Ortiz in the irons. The Brian Lynch trainee has three victories at the top level but has raced only once this year, setting a course record for a mile at Belmont Park (1:31.23) in the Poker Stakes (G3T). He stretches back out to 1 1/4 miles for the Million.

O'Brien returns with Deauville, a 5-year-old son of Galileo who finished third in both the 2016 and 2017 editions of the Million. He was beaten by only a pair of necks in 2016 and less than a length a year later after leading midstretch. Ryan Moore returns to Chicago to try to improve on that, and the globetrotter's best performances have come in the United States.

Deauville arrived at Arlington Aug. 6 and was scheduled to be on the track two days before the race. O'Brien told Arlington officials he was pleased with the horse's runner-up showing in the nine-furlong ICON Meld Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown in his last outing.

"He had a good run in Leopardstown last time and just got beat on the line," O'Brien said. "He seems to be in good form, and we're happy with him since then."

Chad Brown saddled Beach Patrol to win the 2016 Secretariat and 2017 Million, and he returns to the Million with the trio of Almanaar, Money Multiplier, and Robert Bruce.

Money Multiplier fell just a half-length short in the June 30 United Nations Stakes (G1T) at Monmouth Park. He traveled to Doha, Qatar, in February to run third in the H.H. The Emir's Trophy Presented by Longines (G1), then showed no signs of wear and tear from the travel while winning a second Monmouth Stakes (G2T) in May.

Robert Bruce, a 4-year-old colt by Fast Company, shipped north from his native Chile undefeated in six starts, all as a 3-year-old. He won the May 5 Fort Marcy Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park to run his record to 7-for-7, then finished sixth in a physical, nine-horse cavalry charge to the wire in the June 9 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Stakes (G1T).

Almanaar, a 6-year-old Dubawi gelding, is a multiple group 3 winner in France. He returned from a 16-month absence to win a June 8 optional-claiming allowance event at Belmont Park.

The Manhattan winner, Spring Quality, also graces the Million field, with trainer Graham Motion looking for his first win in the race. Spring Quality, a lightly raced 6-year-old Quality Road  gelding, races for George Strawbridge Jr.'s Augustin Stable, and Edgar Prado will ride.

The "local" team also shows promise. Catcho En Die, a group 1 winner in Argentina, was claimed for $40,000 at Aqueduct in April by owner-trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul and turned around a month later to finish fifth in the Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont. He won the Stars and Stripes Stakes (G3T) at Arlington on Million Preview day, going 1 1/2 miles while setting a leisurely pace.

"That's what I'm known for," Chatterpaul said. "Claiming horses and moving them up."

The Pizza Man is now a lead pony at Arlington, but in 2015, to the delight of local fans, he became the first Illinois-bred winner of the Million. His owner (Midwest Thoroughbreds) and trainer (Roger Brueggemann) try again with Twenty Four Seven, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of City Zip whose credentials are more modest.

Also in from across the pond are Century Dream and Circus Couture.

Century Dream, a 4-year-old son of Cape Cross, won the Investec Diomed Stakes (G3) at Epsom in June, then just missed in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. William Buick, one of Europe's hottest riders, takes the mount for trainer Simon Crisford.

"He felt good from the traveling, and he's in good form," exercise rider Paul Holley said after stretching Century Dream's legs Aug. 7. "He's just right, really. We're very pleased with him. He was only beaten three-quarters of a length (in the Queen Anne). The form's worked out well. It's all there for him."

Circus Couture, a 6-year-old by Intikhab, is trained by part-owner Jane Chapple-Hyam. He scored nine victories in Italy while under the care of other trainers. Chapple-Hyam saddled Mull of Killough to finish eighth in the 2013 Million.

"It's my second time coming here," she said. "But with all the history with John Henry and The Bart and as a kid growing up, the Arlington Million was always a prestigious race. It's great to have a horse running here."

Multiple grade 1 winner Divisidero was cross-entered in both the Million and the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course the same day and his connections confirmed on Aug. 9 the son of Kitten's Joy will race at the Spa.

The Million is one of three grade 1 races on the card. With the Secretariat and the Beverly D. Stakes for fillies and mares, they are the only top-level races on the Illinois calendar.

The Million and the Beverly D. Stakes will be part of an NBCSN broadcast. The broadcast is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge: Win and You're In, Presented by America's Best Racing series.

Entries: Arlington Million XXXVI S. (G1T)

Arlington International Racecourse, Saturday, August 11, 2018, Race 11

• Grade IT
• 1 1/4m
• Turf
• $1,000,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 6:08 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Circus Couture (IRE)	John F. Egan	126	Jane Chapple-Hyam	30/1
2	2Spring Quality (PA)	Edgar S. Prado	126	H. Graham Motion	8/1
3	3Almanaar (GB)	Joel Rosario	126	Chad C. Brown	5/1
4	4Divisidero (KY)	Jevian Toledo	126	Kelly Rubley	10/1
5	5Century Dream (IRE)	William T. Buick	126	Simon Crisford	12/1
6	6Catcho En Die (ARG)	Jose Valdivia, Jr.	126	Naipaul Chatterpaul	20/1
7	7Twenty Four Seven (KY)	Christopher A. Emigh	126	Roger A. Brueggemann	30/1
8	8Money Multiplier (KY)	John R. Velazquez	126	Chad C. Brown	6/1
9	9Deauville (IRE)	Ryan L. Moore	126	Aidan P. O'Brien	6/1
10	10Robert Bruce (CHI)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Chad C. Brown	9/2
11	11Oscar Performance (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	126	Brian A. Lynch	3/1