UPI Horse Racing Weekend Preview

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- The International Festival of Racing, featuring Arlington Million XXXIII, puts Illinois center stage in weekend racing as the likes of Del Mar, Saratoga and Deauville step back briefly to a supporting role.

With Arlington in the vanguard, it's a turf-heavy weekend. But there also are some interesting 2-year-old races from Santa Rosa to Saratoga.

On the international front, there's the Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at 1,600 meters at Deauville. The cast for this one -- particularly potential cross-Channel raiders -- depends on the course. Early-week rains turned the going soft, which might not suit some of the top English prospects.

Next week brings the premier meeting at York, featuring three Group 1 events -- the Juddmonte International, the Yorkshire Oaks and the Nunthorpe.

And the world of racing mourns the passing of John Nerud at age 102. See news and notes for a few details of his diverse and formative career.

Around the world, around the clock:

Turf

With a pair of Grade I events (plus the Beverly D. for fillies and mares, see below) and the Grade III American St. Leger, Arlington is the place to be on Saturday.

The $1 million, Grade I Million has more than enough international intrigue to justify its central role in the International Festival of Racing. In addition to the actual foreign component, the 1 1/4-miles race, set to run on firm ground, the American contingent includes Triple Threat, a 5-year-old son of Monsun who is only one race removed from his previous base in France. That race was the Grade II Monmouth on the Jersey Shore, which he won with a nice late move, going 9 furlongs. He will have to step it up here, though, facing three of the top four from the Grade I United Nations -- Big Blue Kitten, Slumber and Shining Copper. Legendary was a close third behind Slumber and Big Blue Kitten in the Grade I Manhattan in his last race. Up With the Birds has been pointing for this race since his unproductive trip to the Group 1 Japan Cup last November. Quiet Force and The Pizza Man won two of the feature races on Million Preview Day last month over the course. Of the five who shipped in specifically for this race, Godolphin Racing's Maverick Wave gets the highest marks on the morning line after two straight wins in England. But those were on an all-weather course and over soft turf in Chester. German-bred and trained Wake Forest comes to Chicago fresh off a Group 3 victory in Hamburg and has had more success on firm going.

Saturday's $450,000, Grade I Secretariat at Arlington, in addition to featuring some really classy European 3-year-olds, provides a showdown between Goldstream and Goldberg. Goldstream, the horse, is undefeated in five starts in Italy, including the Group 2 Derby Italiano at Capannelle in his most recent start. Goldberg -- trainer Alan Goldberg, that is -- brings the morning-line favorite, Force the Pass, who won the rich Grade I Belmont Derby Invitational in his last start, giving him four wins and two seconds from six career starts. There are only five others in this field and it's no "gimme" by any means. Highland Reel and War Dispatch will be well regarded in the European markets. The former finished second in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club and won a Group 3 at Goodwood just two weeks ago. War Dispatch has never finished out of the money in nine starts in France. Crittenden just missed in the Grade II American Derby at Arlington on Million Preview Day. Closing Bell and Granny's Kitten are in from Saratoga to try the 1 1/4 miles.

The first question in handicapping Saturday's $350,000, Grade III American St. Leger is -- 1 11/16 miles? That's 1 1/2 miles plus 1 1/2 furlongs, an unusual distance in any jurisdiction. Eleven are signed on to give it a go. Those who have shown the heart needed for a marathon are Crucero, who won the Grade III San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita on June 28, going 1 3/4 miles; Az Ridge, who won at 1 7/8 miles at Turf Paradise earlier this year; and Roman Approval and Calvados, who finished second and third behind The Pizza Man in the 1 1/2-miles Stars and Stripes on Million Preview Day. The Pizza Man is entered here but expected to go for glory in the Million instead. One to watch is Highball, a Wayne Catalano trainee who got his career off to a promising start at Arlington last spring, leveled off, is bred for distance and has been improving of late.

The Illinois action is so compelling that the Horse Racing Radio Network crew couldn't stay away, so catch Mike and Jude from Arlington on www.horseracingradio.net or on Sirius XM. As noted above, the Festival is complex, with lots of European influence. For hints, www.popejude.com is the place.

Filly & Mare Turf

Saturday's $700,000, Grade I Beverly D. at Arlington drew 10 starters, with European imports appearing to dominate the proceeding. Euro Charlene won this last year as a 10-1 longshot, then came back to run fourth in the Group 1 Dubai Turf on World Cup night behind Solow, The Grey Gatsby and Mshawish. In her prep for this, the 4-year-old Myboycharlie filly finished second behind Amazing Maria in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket. Wedding Vow twice has finished second to Legatissimo, who has battled with the top 3-year-old fillies throughout the season. Secret Gesture, a close fifth in last year's Breeders' Cup, was close behind Diamondsandrubies and Legatissimo in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh in Ireland in her last start. Secret Gesture was fifth in last year's Breeders' Cup and a close fourth in the Pretty Polly. Carla Blanca has been a consistent performer in Ireland, albeit a cut below the aforementioned rivals. And Lacy, bred and raced in Germany, also missed by a nose of winning the Group 1 Premio Longines Lydia Tesio in Italy. The top chance among the home team, on paper, would be Stephanie's Kitten, who finished second in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita on Nov. 1 but has come up short in her last two starts. American fans should appreciate seeing some of Europe's most competitive distaffers, thanks to their owners, Arlington and the International Racing Bureau.

Eight are signed on for Saturday's $300,000, Grade I Del Mar Oaks at 9 furlongs with the five top morning-line picks all drawn outside the long shots. Prize Exhibit has two straight graded stakes wins, including the San Clemente last month over the course. Sunset Glow was second in that heat and raced well without winning since taking the Grade I Del Mar Debutante nearly a year ago. Her Emmynency and Zipessa also have credentials. Sharla Rae must reverse a mini tailspin to have an impact.

Friday's $300,000, Grade II Maker's Mark Lake Placid at Saratoga is restricted to 3-year-old fillies and features Miss Temple City in her first start since Royal Ascot. The Temple City filly finished fourth in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes, beaten only 2 lengths, and trainer Graham Motion said it was a valiant effort. "What you don't realize unless you're there is you go a quarter of a mile and then it's uphill all the way to the wire," Motion said of the Ascot layout. "It's grueling." Friday's opposition is Consumer Credit and Strict Compliance, both from the Chad Brown barn, Godolphin's Sentiero Italia, and Heath. Embellish the Lace a fifth if the race is switched to the dirt. Each of the main four would appear capable of landing this one.

Turf Mile

As noted above, Mshawish finished third in the Group 1 Dubai Turf in March. The 5-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro makes his comeback in a tough spot, starting from the rail in Saturday's $500,000, Grade II Fourstardave at 1 mile on the Saratoga turf. King Kreesa has two straight wins at Belmont. The 6-year-old King Cougat gelding is making a nice comeback after an abbreviated 2014 season that followed a disappointing performance in the Group I Longines Hong Kong Sprint in December of 2013. Ironicus also has won two in a row, including the Grade II Longines Dixie at Pimlico. Vyjack and Jack Milton are worth a look, too.

Classic

Trainer Bob Baffert is in almost a no-win situation now with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. The all-conquering Pioneerof the Nile colt had no trouble dominating the Grade I Haskell at Monmouth in his first start since the Belmont Stakes but Baffert confessed he was as nervous as could be about that comeback effort. Monday, the California-based trainer visited Saratoga to check out the surroundings in the event American Pharoah is given the go-ahead for the Grade I Travers on Aug. 29. "He's been such a special horse and he has this following now," Baffert said. "I want to make sure I do the right thing," Baffert said. "We're trying to make it, but he's going to have to really convince me. I have to be all in and feel really confident, because if he comes here I know he's going to have to run hard." If American Pharoah does run in the Travers, the so-called "Midsummer Derby," that would leave two full months before the Breeders' Cup Classic, which is widely supposed to be the colt's final start unless Dubai proves irresistible.

Juvenile

Time to get serious with the Breeders' Cup only a little more than two months away. The Juvenile action centers on Sunday's $200,000, Grade II Saratoga Special, with five of the six entered after winning at first asking. John Q. Public also won his first start, at Ellis Park, then hit the gate and was roughed up while finishing 10th in the Grade III Sanford at the Spa. Watch and learn.

Also to watch in juvenile action: the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity at Arapahoe Park, the $50,000 W.T.B.O.A. Lads Stakes at Emerald Downs, the restricted $150,000 (Canadian) Vandal Stakes at Woodbine and the $50,000 Cavonnier Juvenile at Santa Rosa.

Juvenile Fillies

Tonasah is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's $200,000, Grade II Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga after winning her career opener by 5 1/2 lengths, under a hand ride, on July 2 at Belmont Park. The Malibu Moon filly, trained by Todd Pletcher, was the favorite that day and ran like it, leading from the start and winning by 5 1/2 lengths. She's been breezing steadily at the Spa ever since. Just Wicket, a Tapit filly, won for trainer Steve Asmussen three weeks ago in her second start, coming from off the pace. Delicate Lady, Kandoo and Lookoutsister all won at first asking at various venues. Decked out finished third in the Grade III Schuylerville in her last start.

Also in this division: The $60,000 Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park and the $50,000 Barbara Shinpoch at Emerald Downs.

News and notes:

John Nerud, who died at age 102 on Thursday morning, had a profound impact on American racing and, by extension, on the world racing scene. He was a formative influence in the Breeders' Cup, which in many ways transformed international competition. He trained the incomparable miler Dr. Fager, who set record and won championships despite carrying weights that would anchor many of today's stars. He owned and bred Cozzene and Fappiano. He won the Eclipse Award of Merit in 2007. Breeders' Cup president Craig Fravel said: "Over the long history of Thoroughbred racing in America, few individuals made as indelible an impact on our sport as John Nerud did over many decades," said Breeders' Cup President Craig Fravel.

Futura has been named South Africa's 2014-15 Horse of the Year, thanks to three Group 1 victories during the season -- the Champions Cup, the J&B Met and L'Ormarins Queen's Plate. The son of Dynasty is owned by Jack Mitchell, John Freeman and Drakenstein Stud, was bred by Guy Murdoch and trained by Justin Snaith. Futura also took honors as the champion older male and middle-distance horse.