Bricks and Mortar to Face Tough Arlington Million Field

Given the proliferation of multi-million dollar purses around the world since John Henry defeated The Bart in the 1981 inaugural running of the Arlington Million (G1T), Arlington International Racecourse could not have hoped for a much better field than the one assembled for the Aug. 10 renewal.

The 10-horse lineup features the dominant force in the U.S. turf division, Bricks and Mortar; last year's Million winner, Robert Bruce; two potent challengers from Ireland and another from France; and the 1-2-3 finishers in the local prep, the July 13 Arlington Handicap (G3T).

Bricks and Mortar and Robert Bruce are both trained by Chad Brown, who seeks his fourth Million winner.

Bricks and Mortar, after missing most of the 2018 season, returned to put some order among American male turf runners, reeling off four consecutive wins this season, three at the grade 1 level. With Irad Ortiz Jr. named to ride, the 5-year-old son of Giant's Causeway was posted as the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the 1 1/4-mile Million.

"They're all tough races," said Bill Lawrence, co-owner with Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables. "We think we have a big chance but first we have to beat 'the other Chads.' Then we have to worry about Aidan, and he's got some good ones, too.

"It's still horse racing," Lawrence added. "You've got to beat whoever shows up."

Breeding rights to Bricks and Mortar have been sold to Teruya Yoshida's Shadai Farm in Japan, as reported Aug. 7 by BloodHorse, and Lawrence said while he is happy the horse will be well situated to make a mark as a sire there, it's sad he couldn't stand in the United States.

"The foreign breeders value turf horses more highly," he said. "At the end of the day, it's an economic decision."

Robert Bruce, a Chilean-bred by Fast Company, has not won in four starts since the 2018 Million triumph but comes off a second-place finish behind Bricks and Mortar in the June 8 Manhattan Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park. That improved showing was good enough to land him second on the morning line at 7-2. Javier Castellano will take the reins.

John Henry, who reprised his 1981 victory three years later, remains the only two-time winner of the event.

Magic Wand appears the more formidable of Irish maestro Aidan O'Brien's Million duo. She hasn't won in 11 starts since June of last year but finished second in five of those, including a second to Bricks and Mortar in the Jan. 26 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1T) over yielding going at Gulfstream Park. She was third in the May 11 Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont behind Channel Maker and Arklow, and fourth in the 2018 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T), won by that year's Beverly D. Stakes (G1T) winner, Sistercharlie.

Magic Wand, a 4-year-old Galileo filly, is cross-entered in the Beverly D. for fillies and mares on the same program.

O'Brien's other runner, Hunting Horn, a 4-year-old colt by Camelot, was eighth in last year's Secretariat Stakes (G1T) on the Million card. Since then, he has raced in France, Kentucky, Florida, Qatar, Dubai, New York, and thrice in England, all without winning. In his recent starts, he has faced some of the most accomplished runners in training.

Ryan Moore is named to be aboard Hunting Horn, and Wayne Lordan on Magic Wand. O'Brien has sent two winners to the Million: Cape Blanco in 2011 and Powerscourt, who got by Kitten's Joy  in the stretch to win in 2005.

Intellogent, a 4-year-old colt by Intello trained by Fabrice Chappet, visits from France, where he has been a factor without winning in three major races this year.  Last year he won the one-mile Qatar Prix Jean Prat (G1) and the 1 1/8-mile Prix de Guiche (G3).

"This distance I think is a perfect trip for him," Chappet said Thursday morning. "He has the win going the mile, but I think he is at his best when he's going further."

Florent Geroux, who was previously a regular rider at Arlington, will hop aboard Intellogent for the first time Saturday.

"He doesn't have a great draw (post nine), but I know that Florent is familiar with Arlington," Chappet explained. "He's much more familiar with the layout than I am, so I'm going to leave it up to him when he gets out of the gate to make a decision on where to spot him. I have nothing but confidence in Florent."

Pivoine, trained by Andrew Balding, completes the international contingent. The 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Redoute's Choice has been moderately successful of late in the UK handicap ranks.

Catcho En Die, an Argentine-bred, looks to improve on his third-place finish in the 2018 Million but has been ineffective in three starts following a long post-Million break.

The top three from the Arlington Handicap—Bandua, The Great Day, and Captivating Moon—all are relative outsiders. Bandua, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of The Factor  from the Seattle Slew mare If Angels Sang, won his first two starts in Ireland, finished third in last year's Secretariat, then jumped up to win the Arlington Handicap after nine straight defeats.

Entries: Arlington Million XXXVII S. (G1T)

Arlington International Racecourse, Saturday, August 10, 2019, Race 11

• Grade IT
• 1 1/4m
• Turf
• $1,000,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 6:12 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Robert Bruce (CHI)	Javier Castellano	126	Chad C. Brown	7/2
2	2Magic Wand (IRE)	Wayne Lordan	123	Aidan P. O'Brien	5/1
3	3Bricks and Mortar (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	126	Chad C. Brown	8/5
4	4Catcho En Die (ARG)	Sophie Doyle	126	Naipaul Chatterpaul	30/1
5	5Hunting Horn (IRE)	Ryan L. Moore	126	Aidan P. O'Brien	12/1
6	6The Great Day (ARG)	Trevor McCarthy	126	Arnaud Delacour	12/1
7	7Pivoine (IRE)	Silvestre de Sousa	126	Andrew Balding	15/1
8	8Captivating Moon (KY)	Jose Valdivia, Jr.	126	Chris M. Block	20/1
9	9Intellogent (IRE)	Florent Geroux	126	Fabrice Chappet	12/1
10	10Bandua (KY)	Adam Beschizza	126	Jack Sisterson	6/1