There had been drama in the days leading up to the Million. Kieren
Fallon had come to Chicago to ride for Aidan O'Brien. His bid was
thwarted. More on Fallon's ill-fated adventure in a subsequent
paragraph.
Martin Dwyer's departure was delayed and at one point, there was the
question whether he would make the trip in view of the happenings in the
United Kingdom. Martin made it and what was in store for him was more
frustration. Rising Cross in the Beverly D and Phoenix Reach in the
Arlington Million were disappointments.
Gorella, a French-bred filly, was the 13-10 choice in the $750,000
Beverly D over 1 3/16 miles (1900 metres approx.). Julien Leparoux, the
number one rider in America in terms of number of races won, showed
tremendous poise in the face of adversity. A slow starter, Gorella had
drawn post 1 and was away tardily and trailed the 11-horse field by over
15 lengths as the field raced down the backside. Live Life, another
French filly, had set up shop on the front end. Film Maker had gained
forward position as they negotiated the final turn. Honey Ryder had
considerable support and was finding it difficult to keep up as the
field began the run to the wire. Gorella had one horse beat as Leparoux
steered her to the extreme outside. Shown some racetrack as she
straightened out, Gorella put in a burst of speed rarely seen in route
races. In a trice, she had the field covered and was in front with less
than an eighth of a mile to go. All Julien Leparoux had to do was remind
the filly that the job was not over yet. Film Maker, overcoming a spot
of trouble, edged out Live Life for the runner-up berth. The time was 1
53.3 on firm going. The winning margin was 1 3/4 lengths.
It was back to back wins for trainer Pat Biancone who had saddled Angara
to victory in the 2005 edition of the Beverly D. Martin Schwartz, the
owner of Gorella, also owned Angara.
"You have to be patient with this filly. That is the only way she likes
to be ridden. She proved today she is a machine," an overjoyed Julien
Leparoux said.
Trainer Pat Biancone, exulting in two successive Beverly D triumphs, was
effusive in his praise of Leparoux. Biancone said, "he was cool. I am
happy for him. This is his first Grade I win. The theory that Gorella
cannot get the (1 3/16) trip has been put to bed. She can, as a matter
of fact, go longer."
Beverly D honors the memory of Beverly Duchossois, the late wife of
Richard L Duchossois, the Chairman of Arlington Park.
With the scratch of Go Deputy, ten horses answered the starter's call in
the Arlington Million. The 1 1/4 mile race offered a guaranteed million
dollar purse. English Channel, winner of two Grade I races in his last
three outings, was favored at 21-10. Ridden by John Velazquez and
trained by Todd Pletcher, the dominant jockey-trainer team in America
today, English Channel was a striking winner in the United Nations
Handicap at Monmouth Park in New Jersey in his last start. Cacique who
had beaten English Channel in Belmont Park's Manhattan Handicap, had a
large following. The Aidan O'Brien-trained Ace, ridden by Garrett Gomez,
had several friends. The Tin Man, at 8, and the oldest horse in the
race, hovered around 5 to 1 and 6 to 1.
The Tin Man, from draw-2, darted to the top. A 24.3 opening quarter must
have made jockey Victor Espinoza chuckle within himself. The half came
in 50.1 and The Tin Man was bowling along merrily with Cacique in
second. The infield board flashed 1.15 as The Tin Man flashed past the
six furlong marker. The writing was on the wall. English Channel, a
runner who does his best when staying close to the top, was farther back
than his fans would have liked and was not responding to his rider's
call. With the exception of Cacique, there was no runner close enough to
mount a challenge. For a moment, the thought flashed across my mind-will
there be another Gorella to call the The Tin Man's 'pedestrian crawl
bluff?' Within the first 100 yards in the lane, Victor Espinoza put the
issue beyond doubt. He shook up his mount and The Tin Man raced on for
an easy victory. Cacique made a mighty bid. The harder Edgar Prado
tried, the faster The Tin Man ran. Soldier Hollow occupied the third
spot.
The Tin Man returned $13.00, $6.00 and $4.60. "This is the second
easiest Grade I race I have won. The easiest was when I won the Kentucky
Derby with War Emblem. He showed me that he is back in form when winning
his last start at Hollywood Park," said Victor Espinoza.
"I cannot believe that they let him (The Tin Man) set such slow
fractions. He has overcome problems. Victor gave him a great ride."
The Tin Man is a son of Affirmed, the 1978 Triple Crown Champion. Steve
Cauthen, then 18, was the rider.
The Secretariat Stakes, over 1 1/4 miles, carried a $400,000 guarantee.
It is a race for three year olds. Only six horses went postward. Showing
Up, winner of four races in five lifetime starts, was the half money
favorite. His only loss came in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs
when he was sixth behind Barbaro. Showing Up's owners, Roy and Gretchen
Jackson, also own Barbaro.
Making it all in the hands of jockey Cornelio Velasquez, Showing Up was
not threatened at any point. Ivan Denisovich, John Velasquez up,lay
fifth and moved up quickly in the final furlong to be second. "I ran
into a bit of trouble. With a clear trip, I might have won, averred John
Velasquez.
The winning margin was 1 1/2 lengths and the time was 2 minutes flat.
Barclay Tagg, Showing Up's trainer, said," I was impressed. He ran
better than I thought he would. He is versatile."
Showing Up's daddy is Strategic Mission, a relatively unknown sire. It
was only the second race on the grass for Showing Up.
Kieren Fallon's plea for an injunction to ride in the United Kingdom had
been denied. He arrived in Chicago giving himself extra time. The
Arlington Stewards refused permission on the grounds that Fallon's
presence`would be detrimental to the integrity of the sport. Fallon
appealed in a Chicago court and he was given a hearing. The court, after
due process, concurred with the Arlington decision. Given the Chicago
rebuff, it is certain that Fallon will not be allowed to ride in the
Breeders Cup races at Churchill Downs in early November.The 'corruption
investigation,' as it is called in England, is rocking horse racing
there. A day or two ago, four more jockeys, including Robert Winston,
have been accused of wrong-doing.
The fact that Kieren Fallon tried extra hard to ride in Chicago
influenced a number of fans. Ace's odds were around 5-1 despite the fact
the O'Brien trainee had not won since 2004. Fallon had two winners at
the Curragh on Sunday. He rode Holy Roman Emperor to victory in the
Grade I Phoenix Stakes for freshman boys. Holy Roman Emperor, the 13-8
joint favorite with Hellvelyn, beat the latter easily. In The Coventry
Stakes, the opening event at Royal Ascot, Hellvelyn had won and Holy
Roman Emperor had run 15th in the 20-horse field. In the same Curragh
card, Fallon won a Grade III race with Moss Vale, a sprinter. Fallon won
three Grade I races in a row on Arc Day at Longchamp in Paris last year.
The Arc in 2006 is on Sunday, October 1. It is the one big meeting that
Fallon will be allowed to ride in because French authorities have agreed
to honor his Irish license.
Ashok Bathla of Bangalore and his son were with me as we watched the
races from a strategically-located box at Arlington Park. The weather
was perfect-the racing was of the highest order and one could not have
asked for more.
