Arlington Barn Notes Friday, August 4: Arlington Unveils New Arlington Million Trophy

By Bailey Gallison —-

• Oscar Performance Tuning Up for Secretariat
• Botti Prepares Fanciful Angel for Million Bid
• Permian Probable For Secretariat Bid

OSCAR PERFORMANCE TUNING UP FOR SECRETARIAT

Amerman Racing LLC’s homebred Oscar Performance worked Monday at Belmont Park in preparation for his next start in the Grade I Secretariat Stakes at Arlington International Racecourse on Aug. 12. Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last November, the Brian Lynch trainee picked up his second Grade I victory when making his most recent start in the Belmont Derby on July 8 under Jose Ortiz, who has ridden him in all five of his career wins.

“I’m happy with everything he’s doing right now,” said Lynch. “He’ll have another work this weekend, then get on a plane Tuesday to Chicago”

A 3-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy, Oscar Performance’s Monday breeze was his second work since the Belmont Derby. The ridgling covered five furlongs in 1:03.20 over the Belmont training track, the second best time at that distance from six workers.

“The training track is a little deep,” said Lynch. “It makes the times a lot slower. With him coming back [off the Belmont Derby] it’s fine, but it’s not by design that the works are slower.”

Bred in Kentucky by his owners, Oscar Performance is out of the stakes-winning Theatrical (IRE) mare Devine Actress, who also produced possible Arlington Million contender Oscar Nominated, a full brother to Oscar Performance. Oscar Performance would be the first horse to contest the Secretariat Stakes after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, which has only been run since 2007.

BOTTI PREPARES FANCIFUL ANGEL FOR MILLION BID

Italian trainer Marco Botti is pointing Touch Gold Racing’s Fanciful Angel (IRE) to the Grade I Arlington Million on Aug. 12 at Arlington International Racecourse The 5-year-old gelding by Dark Angel (IRE) failed to menace when racing over good ground earlier this month at Sandown, but is a two-time winner this season, albeit with only one of those wins coming on the grass and his most recent victory coming over the Polytrack at Chelmsford City at 1¼ miles on May 25.

Touch Gold Racing purchased Fanciful Angel from the Tattersalls HIT Sale in July 2016. The gelding was already a winner at a mile, but had not tried 1¼ miles until his new connections raced him at Chelmsford. Touch Gold Racing has aimed him to the Million since before his most recent start, believing the speed of Fanciful Angel will serve him well against the fast-paced running style of American horses.

Fanciful Angel would be the eighth starter for Botti at Arlington, who is still chasing a win in Arlington’s most prestigious race. He found victory in the Grade I Beverly D. in 2014 with Team Valor International’s Euro Charline (GB), who returned to finish fourth in the 2015 edition. Botti won the 2012 edition of the American St. Leger with Jakkalberry (IRE) and with Dandino (GB) in 2013, who ran second the following year, but has finished off the board in the Arlington Million with his two previous runners Crackerjack King (IRE) (5th) in 2012 and Guest of Honour (IRE) (9th) in 2013.

PERMIAN PROBABLE FOR SECRETARIAT BID

Mark Johnston is likely to send Royal Ascot Group II King Edward VII Stakes winner Permian (IRE) to contest the Grade I Secretariat Stakes at Arlington International Racecourse on Aug. 12. Owned by Sheik Hamdan Bin Mohammed al Maktoum, the 3-year-old son of Teofilo (IRE) was narrowly defeated last out in the Grade I Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris – after leading from the gate of the 1½ miles over a firm turf course, the colt lost the race in a photo finish with an unfortunately timed bob of the head. William Buick, who rode Permian in his last four starts, is expected to retain the mount.

Bred by Darley, Permian is out of the stakes-winning mare Tessa Reef (IRE). As a juvenile, the colt broke his maiden at first asking over seven furlongs on a synthetic course. He was victorious twice as a 2-year-old going a mile on the grass, ending the season with a close third in stakes company going 1¼ miles on the turf at Newmarket. He returned in April of this year with a volley of strong finishes before capturing his first Group II win in the Dante Stakes at York on May 18.

Scottish-born Johnston is one of Britain’s leading trainers, known for training over 100 winners each season since 1994. Permian would be Johnston’s second starter at Arlington; he saddled Love Regardless in the 2002 Secretariat, where he finished sixth.

ARLINGTON UNVEILS NEW ARLINGTON MILLION TROPHY

A dazzling new perpetual trophy will be unveiled on Saturday, August 12th, and redesigned Arlington Million trophies will be awarded to the winning owner, trainer and jockey in commemoration of the 35th running of the world-famous Arlington Million. The trophies were designed and hand-crafted by Tiffany & Co. with input from Arlington International Racecourse Chairman Richard L. Duchossois and others on the Arlington team. Tiffany & Co. is the creator of many of the most famous trophies for the major professional sports championships in America.

“These beautiful trophies match the prestige attached to the Arlington Million,” said Arlington General Manager Tony Petrillo. “We are very proud of the redesigned trophies and know that the winners of the Million will be very proud as well.”

Crafted at Tiffany’s Hollowware workshop in Rhode Island, the trophy takes approximately six months to complete. The Arlington Million Perpetual trophy weighs about 33 pounds and is about 2 feet 6 inches tall. The trophies awarded to the winning owner, trainer and jockey will become part of their personal collections for them to keep while the perpetual will remain on display at Arlington.

The perpetual trophy has ring around the bottom that features an engraved list of the names of all of the winners of the Arlington Million, which was first run in 1981.

This year, adding to the pageantry of the day, a Master Engraver for Tiffany & Co. will be on-site at Arlington and will begin hand-engraving the name of the 2017 winner as soon as the race is official.

“We couldn’t be happier with this stunning trophy,” said Petrillo. “It is an absolutely magnificent creation.”

Arlington International Racecourse – the Chicago area’s premier Thoroughbred racetrack located in Arlington Heights, Ill. – will run a 71-day meet in 2017 from Friday, May 5 through September 23. Arlington International Racecourse, whose parent company is Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN), also operates 10 off-track, simulcast-wagering facilities in Aurora, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Waukegan, Villa Park, Rockford, Hodgkins, McHenry, Green Oaks and Orland Hills. Arlington International Racecourse is a proud member of America’s Best Racing. Information on Arlington International Racecourse and Trackside OTB can be found online at www.arlingtonpark.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/arlingtonpark and www.facebook.com/tracksideotb, and on Twitter at @Arlington_Park for the latest happenings, @arlingtonracing for the latest racing news and @tracksideotb for all things pertaining to off-track wagering.