CHILEAN SENSATION ROBERT BRUCE GIVES BROWN BACK-TO-BACK ARLINGTON MILLION WINS

By Bailey Gallison —-

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (August 11, 2018) – Rebounding from a trouble-filled sixth in the Grade 1 Manhattan in June, Chilean-bred and Chilean-owned Robert Bruce (CHI) edged clear of stablemate Almanaar (GB) to win the 36th running of the Grade I $1,000,000 Arlington Million by a half-length. It was the second straight Million win for trainer Chad Brown, who saddled the top two finishers in the Million one race after having the top three in his fourth straight Grade I Beverly D.

About half the field of older horses was stacked across the track with a furlong to run but Robert Bruce swooped past them all to capture the 1¼-mile race over “firm” turf in 2:02.29.

“He’s got an unbelievable kick, but so did the losing horse,” said Brown, Arlington International’s all-time leading Grade I-winning trainer. “They both ran tremendous.”

Robert Bruce earned an automatic berth into the Grade I $4,000,000 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3. Brown indicated that he could start once more before then, most likely in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park on Sept. 29.

Under Irad Ortiz Jr., the 4-year-old Robert Bruce bumped with favored Oscar Performance at the start before settling off the pace, led by Century Dream (IRE) through fractions of 23.66, 48.28, and 1:12.96. As the field bunched up approaching the quarter-pole, Robert Bruce had to go six-wide into the stretch, according to the official Equibase chart, and finding himself second-last.

“Today was a smaller field, a little more speed,” said Ortiz, who won his first Million on his 26th birthday. “Thank God I didn’t have any traffic. On the backside I didn’t want to fight with him, just wanted him to be happy, so when I turned to the backside and went to the two-path I didn’t panic.”

Owner Carlos Lavin of Convento Viejo LLC praised Ortiz’s chilliness even as the other contenders cut the corner ahead of him.

“When he entered the straight and he was in last place, I said, ‘Oh, maybe he’s too far back,’” Lavin said. “But this horse has a change of speed that is incredible. He always starts the same; he makes us suffer.”

Robert Bruce is the first winner with Chilean connections in the storied history of Arlington International’s signature event. By Fast Company (IRE) out of Lady Pelusa (ARG) (Orpen), Robert Bruce took home $582,000 to increase his career earnings to $942,457 and better his record to eight wins in nine lifetime starts, with the lone defeat coming in the Grade I Manhattan Stakes last out. Robert Bruce started his career six-for-six in Chile before being transferred to Brown.

Shadwell Stable’s runner-up Almanaar, rank early once again, hit the lead at the sixteenth-pole before being collared by Robert Bruce.

“He gave me everything he had,” said Almanaar’s jockey Joel Rosario. “I thought for a second we were going to be there but the outside horse (Robert Bruce) came with a strong finish.”

Pacesetter Century Dream was comfortable on the lead but drifted out in the stretch and was disqualified from third to fourth for interference at the sixteenth-pole with Catcho En Die (ARG), trained by Naipaul Chatterpaul and owned in partnership with Sotirios Sakatis, who was officially placed third.

“Simon [Cirsford, trainer] was always very confident of riding a horse positively and he’s a real honest, game horse, and I thought there was a chance that everyone was going to be looking at each other and that no one really wanted the lead,” said William Buick, who rode Century Dream. “We were kind of an underdog in the race so I figured we’d try our best and make something of it.”

Robert Bruce paid $7.20, $3.80, and $3.20, Almanaar returned $4.80 and $3.80, and Catcho En Die was worth $9.80

Beyond Century Dream, Money Multiplier was fifth, followed by Deauville (IRE), Twenty Four Seven, Circus Couture (IRE), and Oscar Performance, who was pulled up before the wire and vanned off as a precaution.

GRADE I ARLINGTON MILLION QUOTES

Irad Ortiz, Jr. (jockey, Robert Bruce (CHI), winner): “The horse was doing so well, we were very positive, so thank God everything went perfect for us. It’s great to ride a winner (on his 26th birthday).”

On his last race in the Grade 1 Manhattan: “There were like 12 horses in there. Tyler (Gaffalione) rode a good race, he just couldn’t get out to the clear. It wasn’t easy for him but today was a smaller field, a little more speed. So thank God I didn’t have any traffic. I put him in the clear on the stretch. On the backside I didn’t want to fight with him, just wanted him to be happy on the backside, so when I turned to the backside and went to the 10-path I didn’t panic.”

Chad Brown (trainer, Robert Bruce (CHI), winner; Almanaar (GB, second): “He’s got an unbelievable kick (Robert Bruce), but so did the losing horse. They both ran tremendous”

On the next start for Robert Bruce: “I may run him once before the Breeders’ Cup, possibly the Joe Hirsch (Turf Classic at Belmont Park on Sept. 29).”

Carlos E. Lavin (owner of Convento Viejo LLC, Robert Bruce, winner): ““The jockey was fantastic. When he entered the straight and he was in last place, I said, ‘Oh, maybe he’s too far back.’ But, this horse has a change of speed that is incredible. He always starts the same, he makes us suffer.”

What does it mean to be the first Chilean-bred to win the Million? “I’m very glad. This is unexpected. To breed a horse in Chile and come all the way to Chicago to win this great prize is really wonderful. I’m very glad to be in Chicago, nice city and nice people.”

Joel Rosario (jockey, Almanaar (GB), second): “He’s a nice horse, he ran really well. He gave me everything he had. I thought for a second we were going to be there but the outside horse (Robert Bruce) came with a strong finish.”

He was rank early on in his last two races? “He always tries to do that. He wanted to pull a little bit, but like I said I thought we were going to get there, but the outside horse came on strong.”

William Buick (jockey, Century Dream (IRE), disqualified to fourth): “Simon was always very confident of riding a horse positively and he’s real honest game horse and I thought there was a chance that everyone was going to be looking at each other and that no one really wanted the lead. WE were kind of an underdog in the race so I figured we’d try our best and make something of it.”

Arlington International Racecourse – the Chicago area’s premier Thoroughbred racetrack located in Arlington Heights, Ill. – will run a 71-day meet in 2018 from May 4 through September 22. 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.

Cover Photo: Robert Bruce; Coady Photography