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Debussy Wins The Arlington Million

Paddy O’Prado Wins The Secretariat

Eclair de Lune Wins The Beverly D.

Blind Luck Wins The Alabama

The $300,000 Guaranteed Arlington Million Pick 3

Past Performances Below

The Secretariat – The Secretariat starts this Pick 3 sequence. It looks like Paddy O’Prado could be the lone single on this ticket for many today. I will be using two horses in this race. Paddy O’Prado is on the top of his game right now after sweeping the Colonial Turf Cup (GII) & Virginia Derby (GII) with with impressive moves off the pace.  The other horse I will use is the Irish Bred Wigmore Hall. Wigmore Hall has been solid in all of his races this year in England, and is coming off a sharp win in the Newmarket Nights Champion Stakes at Newmarket on August 6, 2010. He loves the distance and will get Lasix for the first time. Wigmore Hall will get a class test today. The one horse I am not using, and could be a mistake is Working For Hops. He is in solid form as well, and should be the 2nd choice when the gate open. Hopefully Wigmore Hall will be able to handle the soft turf conditions today.

The Beverly D – Rainbow View has been scratched. She would have been one of the major players in here if she had ran. I will use three horses in the Beverly D. Pachattack is shipping in from England to make her USA debut. She has been running very well in ungraded stakes races in England. See tried two Grade III events, but was a non factor. Biased is the other European import in the Beverly D. She has been against slightly better running in France than Pachattack. She ran 5 x3 in the Grad (II) Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud in France. Biased also beat the boys in France. She offers plenty of value and is in solid form. She has also shown the ability to be an effective runner on soft turf courses. Treat Gently looks to be the one with the best chance to win today. The Juddmonte Farms homebred has really has put it all together in her last two starts. I expect her to stalk and pounce turning for home. The yielding turf course is a concern however. This might be the toughest leg of this Pick 3. Leaving off Ave could be a costly mistake. She won the EBF Ladies Evening Handicap last May in run-a-way on a turf course rated soft. I will find a way to cover if she is the right price.

The Arlington Million – Marsh Side is scratched. Gio Ponti is the morning line favorite and defending Arlington Million Champion looks fit and ready for another big try today. Gio Ponti makes his 3rd start off the layoff and is hands down the class if this field. Nonetheless I am going to use 5 horses in this year’s Arlington Million. Gio Ponti has won over a yielding course and ran 2nd on a course rated good in the Turf Classic (GI) last year to Interpatation at Belmont Park. The turf conditions in the Turf Classic (GI) that day were absolutely horrendous. And that played a major role in him not winning that day. The other American based horse I will use is Jonathan Sheppard’s Just As Well. Just As Well will me making his 5th start of the year. He was 2nd in last year’s Million to Gio Ponti. I expect him to give a solid performance this afternoon. He has been very close to winning a GI in recent years. Just As Well ran 3×6 in the Maker’s Mark Mile (GI) over  yielding turf course at Keeneland April 2009.  Today he will give it another shot. The other three horses I will use are all Euros. Debussy ships in from England. Debussy is Grade II winner who will come into this race making his 4th start of the year and gets Lasix. Tazeez will also come into this race in solid form and ready for a good effort. He ran right behind top rated European horse Twice Over in the Prince of Wales Stakes (GI). And the last Euro in The Arlington Million is Summit Surge.  Summit Surge won the York Stakes (GII) last out on July 24, 2010. He will also be using Lasix for the first time today. Summit Surge races over a yielding course. He finished 5th in the Gladness Stakes in April of 2009. Gio Ponti no doubt will be tough again today, although his last couple of races have been life or death. His last race was more impressive than it looked. He had to overcome dawdling fractions in the Man o’ War to beat Mission Approved. The four others mentioned will certainly help any Pick 3 ticket in the value department.  The biggest question will be how much of a role the turf conditions will factor in today.

ThoroughbredZone’s Arlington Million Pick 3 play

1,4/1,7,9/2,4,6,9,10  For $1 Cost $30

Good Luck!

Turf Course Has Been Upgraded To Good This Afternoon

Arlington Million Day Past Performances

2008 Arlington Million Pick 3 Flashback

ThoroughbredZone’s Best of 2009

2-Year-Old Colt – * Lookin at Lucky is ThoroughbredZone’s top 2-year-old colt of 2009. Lookin at Lucky was a three time Grade I winner in 2009.  He  just missed winning The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) at Santa Anita running second to Godolphin’s Vale of York in a very tight finish. Noble’s Promise had a fine year and was runner-up to Lookin at Lucky in The Cash Call Futurity (GI) at Hollywood Park and finished third behind Lookin at Lucky in The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI). Buddy’s Saint won all three of his career starts in 2009—including The Remsen (GII) at Aqueduct and The Nashua (GII) at Aqueduct.  D’ Funnybone won The Saratoga Special (GI) at Saratoga and The Futurity (GII) at Belmont Park.

2-Year-Old Filly – * She Be Wild is ThoroughbredZone’s top 2-year-old filly of 2009. She Be Wild was a winner four times in her five career starts in 2009.  She was The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly (GI)winner. Blind Luck was a two-time Grade I winner in 2009. Blind Luck captured The Oak Leaf (GI) at Santa Anita and The Hollywood Starlet (GI) at Hollywood Park. Hot Dixie Chick won The Schuylerville (GIII) at Saratoga and The Spinaway (GI) at Saratoga.

3-Year-Old Colt – * Summer Bird is ThoroughbredZone’s top 3-year-old colt in 2009. Summer Bird had a solid 2009 campaign.  A year that included wins in The Belmont Stakes (GI) at Belmont Park, The Travers Stakes (GI) at Saratoga and  The Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) at Belmont Park.  He ran second to Rachel Alexandra in The Haskell (GI) at Monmouth Park  and was a solid a fourth in The Breeder’s Cup Classic behind Zenyatta.  Speedy Quality Road was plagued by quarter crack issues in 2009 that forced him to miss The Kentucky Derby.  He came back to break two track records at Gulfstream Park in The Florida Derby (GI) and Saratoga in The Amsterdam (GII). Blame surged late in the season to win The Fayette Stakes (GII) at Keeneland  and The Clark  (GII) at Churchill Downs.  Pioneer of the Nile won Robert Lewis (GII), The San Felipe (GII) and The Santa Anita Derby (GI) all at Santa Anita Park.

Summer Bird

3-Year-Old Filly – * Rachel Alexandra is ThoroughbredZone’s top 3-year-old filly in 2009.  She put together one of the most impressive campaigns of any 3-year-old filly in history.  She was a perfect 8 for 8 and defeated colts on three separate occasions in 2009—The Preakness Stakes (GI) at Pimlico, The Haskell (GI) at Monmouth Park and the Woodward (GI) at Saratoga. Careless Jewel was a winner five times in her seven races in 2009.  She won The Delaware Oaks (GII) at Delaware Park and The Alabama (GI) at Saratoga. Flashing was two-time Grade I winner in 2009—winning The Test (GI) at Saratoga and The Gazelle (GI) at Belmont Park.

Rachel Alexandra

Fillies And Mares 4 and Up – * Zenyatta is ThoroughbredZone’s 2009 Top older female.  She capped her perfect career by  winning  The Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Santa Anita with a stunning last to first move—becoming the first mare in history to win the race.  She was five for five  in 2009, which  included four Grade I wins.  Zenyatta won The Vanity Handicap (GI) at Hollywood Park, The Clement L. Hirsch (GI) at Del Mar, The Ladies Secret (GI) at Hollywood Park.  She will retire with a perfect record of 14 wins in 14 races.  Simply put—she was super again in 2009. Life is Sweet was able to break through finally with the absence of Zenyatta by winning The Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (GI) with a strong effort. Music Note was a two-time Grade I winner in 2009.  She won The Ballerina (GI) at Saratoga and The Beldame (GI) at Belmont Park.  Seattle Smooth was a perfect three for three in 2009.  She won The Bed O’ Roses (GII) at Aqueduct, The Shuvee (GII) at Belmont Park and The Ogden Phipps (GI) at Belmont Park.  All of her wins were early in the year.

Turf Male – * Gio Ponti is ThoroughbredZone’s 2009 top male turf horse. Gio Ponti was a four time Grade I winner in 2009, and placed twice in two other Grade I races.  He won The Fred Kilroe (GI) at Santa Anita, The Manhattan (GI) at Belmont Park, The Man o’ War (GI) at Belmont Park and The Arlington Million (GI) at Arlington Park. Gio Ponti also ran a solid second in The Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) Zenyatta. Presious Passion had another busy 2009—running 9 times in total.  He was a repeat winner of The United Nations Handicap (GI) at Monmouth Park.  He was an impressive front running winner in The Clement Hirsch (GI) at Santa Anita in his final race before The Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI) where he ran a strong second to Conduit. Conduit repeated as the Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI) winner.  Midships was a winner of The San Luis Rey (GII) at Santa Anita, The San Juan Capistrano (GII) at Santa Anita and The Charles Wittingham Memorial (GI) at Hollywood Park.

Gio Ponti

Filly And Mare Turf – Ventura is ThoroughbredZone’s 2009 Top Filly and Mare Turf horse.  The fabulous mare finished her racing career with a win in The Matriarch (GI) at Santa Anita—a win Bobby Frankel would have been proud of.  She was a three time Grade I winner in 2009—winning The Santa Monica (GI) at Santa Anita and shipped north of the border to defeat colts in The Woodbine Mile (GI) at Woodbine with a powerful rally.  In her three losses of 2009 she was solid—finishing behind the top male turf horse in the country Gio Ponti in The Fred Kilroe (GI) at Santa Anita and was runner-up to the speedy top rated filly and mare sprinter in the country Informed Decision twice in The Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (GI) and The Madison (GI) at Keeneland. Magical Fantasy had a superb 2009 campaign winning three straight Grade I events in California—The Gamely (GI), The John Mabee (GI) and The Yellow Ribbon (GI). *  Goldikova was fabulous again as she went on to win The Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) for the second consecutive year in a row with a powerful late rally.  She will try for three in a row in 2010. Diamondrella was a two time Grade I winner in 2009.  She won The Just A Game (GI) at Belmont Park and The First Lady (GI) at Keeneland.

Sprinter –  *  Kodiak Kowboy is ThoroughbredZone’s 2009 sprinter of the year. This was one of the tougher categories to choose a winner. Kodiak Kowboy had a strong year.  He was a three time Grade I winner in 2009. Kodiak Kowboy won The Carter (GI) at Aqueduct, The Vosburgh at Belmont Park (GI) and The Cigar Mile (GI) at Aqueduct. Zensational reeled of three straight Grade I wins in California—winning The Triple Bend Handicap (GI) at Hollywood Park, The Bing Crosby (GI) at Del Mar and The Pete O’Brien (GI) at Del Mar.  He was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) as the odds on favorite. Dancing In Silks was The Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) winner—making that his fourth straight win in 2009—the other three were California state bred races. Fabulous Strike won a pair of Grade II races—The True North (GII) at Belmont Park and The Vanderbilt (GII) at Saratoga.  He finished a close second twice to Kodiak Kowboy in The Carter (GI) at Aqueduct and The Vosburgh (GI) at Belmont Park.

Kodiak Kowboy Beat Fabulous Strike In Vosburgh

Filly And Mare Sprinter – * Informed Decision is ThoroughbredZone’s 2009 top filly and mare sprinter.  She had a dominant year, winning three Grade I stakes at three different tracks.  She won The Madison (GI) at Keeneland, The Humana Distaff (GI) at Churchill Downs and capped the year with a strong win over a determined Ventura in The Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (GI). Informed Decision only lost once in 7 starts in 2009 over a sloppy track at Saratoga in The Ballerina (GI). Game Face had a solid 2009 campaign.   She was a winner of fours sprint stakes in 2009 that included The Princess Rooney (GI) at Calder and The Honorable Miss (GII) at Saratoga.

Horse Of The Year – *  Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta are both ThoroughbredZone’s 2009 Horse of the Year. These two very special horses dominated their competition in 2009 like no other filly and mare ever have. Rachel Alexandra was a perfect 8 for 8 in 2009. Rachel Alexandra was a winner of 8 races at 7 different tracks including five Grade I stakes races. Rachel Alexandra had the most dominant 3-year-old filly campaign in history.  She captured The Kentucky Oaks (GI) at Churchill Downs, The Preakness Stakes (GI), The Mother Goose (GI) at Belmont Park (GI), The Haskell (GI) at Monmouth Park and capped 2009 with a win against older males in The Woodward (GI) at Saratoga.  She became the first filly in 85 years to win The Preakness Stakes (GI) and the first filly ever to win the Woodward Stakes (GI) against older males.   No other 3-year-old filly has ever accomplished what Rachel Alexandra has in 2009. Zenyatta won five races in 2009, including four Grade I stakes races.  She won The Vanity Handicap (GI) at Hollywood Park, The Clement L. Hirsch (GI) at Del Mar, The Ladies Secret (GI) at Hollywood Park and capped her perfect career by winning America’s richest race The $5 Million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Santa Anita with an unbelievable rally from last to first.  She finished her career with a perfect undefeated record—winning 14 races out of 14 starts.  To choose between either one of these two great champion thoroughbreds is nearly impossible.  Neither one of these great champions deserves to come in second—when they always come in first. They had a combined record in 2009 of a super 13-0! They both put together history making years that we might not ever see again in our lifetimes. Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta were simply the best of the best in 2009—

***The Great Zenyatta Will Run In 2010—Retirement On Hold***

Rachel Alexandra

Older Male – * Gio Ponti is ThoroughbredZone’s Top male turf horse of 2009. Gio Ponti put together a super year that included four straight Grade I wins. Gio Ponti won The Fred Kilroe (GI) at Santa Anita, The Manhattan (GI) at Belmont Park, The Man o’ War (GI) and The Arlington Million (GI) at Arlington.  He also ran a game second to Zenyatta in The Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI), although that was not run on turf. Presious Passion had another busy and productive year in 2009.  He found his best form yet in 2009 by winning two Grade I stakes races.  He was a repeat winner in The United Nations (GI) at Monmouth Park and ran a super race in The Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI) finishing second to repeat winner Conduit. Presious Passion earned over 1.5 million on the sod in 2009. Conduit came back to do it again—win The Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI) at Santa Anita. Furthest Land won The Kentucky Cup Classic (GII) at Turfway Park and The Breeders’ Cup Dirt/Poly Mile.  Furthest Land won 6 races in 2009.

Steeplechase – * Mixed Up is ThoroughbredZone’s top jumper in 2009.  He had a solid year winning four races out of eight starts in 2009 and led all jumpers with earnings of $184,495. Left Unsaid was a winner of three races from six starts and was third in earnings with $ 137,700.

Race Of The Year – There were several great races in 2009 in the world of Thoroughbred Horse Racing.  2009 was truly the year of the filly and mare.  A few  races stand out in particular in 2009. Rachel Alexandra became the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness Stakes (GI) in a thrilling front running win at Pimlico holding off Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird.  She went to the lead with speedy Big Drama and put him away.  She ran through solid fractions all the way to the wire in a very impressive performance.  The Woodward (GI) was one of the most exciting races of the year, and one the most exciting races  in memory.  Saratoga erupted when she crossed the finish line first. Rachel Alexandra became the first filly to ever win The Woodward in an absolutely thrilling ding-dong battle over Macho Again.  She was on the lead most of the way as usual—ripping off snappy fractions.  It was a game win for the 3-year-old filly as she defeated older males.  The Breeder’s Cup Classic will go down as one of the most thrilling races in Breeders’ Cup history. Zenyatta, the home town hero was far behind in the early stages of the race and throughout and looked like she was seemingly out of it.  She then began to commence a stunning rally from last to first as she gobbled up ground with her huge stride. Zenyatta rallied down the middle of the track to the roar of the crowd at Santa Anita as she went on to win.  Her win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) was her biggest, most impressive wins of her career.  Both the Woodward and Breeders’ Cup Classic are ThroughbredZone’s races of the year for 2009.

Top Trainer –  *  Steve Asmussen is ThoroughbredZone’s top trainer in 2009.  He led the nation in earnings with $21,821,225 and wins with 648.  The Asmussen train rolled on in 2009.  Todd Pletcher was second in the earnings department with $15,358,011.  Scott Lake was second to Steve Asmussen in the win department with 307.

Top Jockey – Ramon Dominguez and * Julien Leparoux are both ThoroughbredZone’s top jockeys in 2009. Julien Leparoux had a super year. He was second in the nation in earnings with $18,560,565. Ramon Dominguez was third in the nation in earnings with $18,256,045 and was second in the nation in wins to Russell Baze with 388. He dominated almost all year in New York. Garrett Gomez— last years ThoroughbredZone’s  jockey of the year led the nation in earnings again with $18,571,171.

Top Apprentice Jockey – Luis Paez is ThoroughbredZone’s 2009 Top Apprentice jockey in 2009.  He won 104 races out of 472 mounts and earned $1,715,887. Luis Paez won at an impressive rate of 22%.

Breeder – * Juddmonte Farms is ThoroughbredZone’s top breeder of 2009.  They had a stellar year that saw them win 6 GI stakes races in 2009 and amassing $4,413,243 in total purses.  Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs had another big year.  Adena Springs led all Breeders in starts, wins and earnings.  They had 3825 starters in 2009—with 550 winners and earnings of $12,721,458.

Top Owner – *  Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Godolphin Stable  is ThoroughbredZone’s top owner of 2009.  Godolphin captured 8 Grade I stakes in 2009 and amassed $3,768,896 in total purse money.  WinStar Farm had a big year.  They won 41 races out of 231 starters and led the nation in total purse money with 7,138,456.

Top Sire - Birdstone is ThoroughbredZone’s 2009 top sire.  He produced the Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Mine That Bird and The Belmont Stakes (GI), Travers Stakes (GI) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) winner Summer Bird.  He became the first sire in history to accomplish this.

Best Moment in 2009 – 2009 simply put was the year of the filly.  Four special fillies and mares proved they were champions by etching their place in the history books in 2009. Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta, Ventura and Goldikova all defeated males in Grade I stakes competition in 2009.  In no other year in memory have we seen such dominating fillies and mares compete in the same year.  They were all sensational and accomplished things we may never see again on the track.  They all produced memorable moments in 2009 that will most certainly last a lifetime.  Each time one of these special ladies stepped onto the track, they gave us all something to remember in 2009. Mine That Bird pulled off one of the most improbable upset wins in Kentucky Derby history.  He rallied along the rail to win at odds of 50/1 to become the 2nd-biggest  longshot to ever win the roses.

Better Talk Now was retired in 2009 at the ripe old age of 10. He was a true warrior and a great champion. He won a total of 11 Grade I races in his career and was a Breeders’ Cup Turf Champion. He earned $4,356,664 on the track.

* Eclipse Award Winner

Dunkirk

Dunkirk

Mine That Bird

Charitable Man

Fabulous Strike

Fabulous Strike

Fabulous Strike

Strike Beats Benny The Bull

Fabulous Strike

F. Strike In The Winner’s Circle

Two Step Salsa

Benny The Bull

Better Talk Now

Better Talk Now

Cowboy Cal

Gio Ponti

Phil The Power

Munnings

Kensei

Kensei

Kensei

Hull

Hull

Munnings

JV After Win

Alan Garcia & Angel Cordero

Jockey Charity Snap Shot

What You Lookin At ?

Before True North

Jody MacDonald

Which Way?

Back Packed

Before Manhattan

The Hardware

Outside Betting Windows

Before The Manhattan

Summer Bird Wins The Belmont Stakes With A Strong Late Rally To Go Past Mine That Bird And Dunkirk…Dunkirk (ThoroughbredZones’s Pick) Runs A Solid 2nd After Leading Most Of The Way Fighting off Charitable Man Through The Stretch…Charitable Man Weakened In The Final Furlong To Finish 4th…Dunkirk Dug In Along The Rail And Looked Strong…Mine That Bird Made A Strong Rally Around The Bend And Took The Lead In The Stretch Dueling With A Determined Dunkirk… Before Summer Bird Surges  To Go By Both…

*****

Fabulous Strike Was Ready To Roll And Does Going All The Way In A Near Track Record At Belmont Park For 6 Furlongs  In The True North…Benny The Bull Can’t Get Him In His Return Race…Runs 2nd

2009 Belmont Stakes Video

Winchester, Mauralakana And Spirit One All Win…

Secretariat- The 1 1/4 event for 3 year olds colts on the grass . 4 horses to use in this one. You might be able to get away with not using Secret Getaway, but I’ll put him n. Winchester, Plan and Tizdejavu. Winchester ships in with Plan from Ireland. These two don’t look to be the strongest euros to ship in, but this race is not packed with big horses. Winchester has won at a 1 1/4 in Ireland and will use lasix and blinkers for the first time. Plan owned by IEAH of Big Brown fame and Team Tabor from Ireland. Murtagh from Ireland will ride. His time form numbers have improved with each race he has run. Will try the 1 1/4 for the first time. And Secret Getaway coming off back to back wins at Woodbine, but also ran a game 2nd at the class filled Keeneland meet to Accredit.

Beverly D- Lots of class in here, but the question is who will get the distance. It looks like the front end will be crowded early with Dreaming of Ana, Rosinka and Precious Kitten. They are all class, but will they stay on late? Mauralakana has won at the distance of a 1 3/16 and is sharp form for Clement. She always puts in a strong late rally. French filly Cicerole stretches out. Horse has never won beyond a 1 1/16, but the horse always run a good race. She has defeated colts in France. Has never contested a race better then a G3…Connections see fit to make it today. She might be a surprise.

Arlington Million- Archipenko is starting to get better and better. Big time form ratings and won the Queen Elizabeth Cup. Spirit One is another french invader. Has run some solid races in France and is a winner at a 1 1/4. Ran right behind the top rated Euro Duke Of Maramalade in a gutsy effort. If turf is less then firm this one should appreciate it. Einstein one of the top American based horses this year. Has never won at a 1 1/4, but is in solid form for this. And team Tabor shows up with Mount Nelson coming off a GI win in the Eclipse Stakes. Murtagh sees fit to come over and ride him for this. Ran right behind the top rated filly Darjina.

Pick 3 play

2,3,6,9/4,9/1,3,6,7 $32 for a buck