Colonial Downs Saturday

THE Arlington Million was once a target race that gained attention on both sides of the world.

The 2023 Colonial Downs version is much more low-key, even though the prize money has been increased back in keeping with its old home at Arlington Park with a $1million in the prize money purse.

The field of 11 (off at 11.40pm) contains five geldings and the age range from four to nine years old.

There are no stars among the US turf older horses and it is a wide-open race with Atone the morning line favourite at 7/2 for Mike Maker.

The son of Into Mischief won the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes in January but has two defeats since.

Adhamo, an Irish-bred son of Intello, makes his seasonal reappearance for Chad Brown who also saddles the seven-year-old Rockemperor

Godolphin are represented by last year’s winner Santin but the Brendan Walsh-trained gelding has not won since and not made the first three in six runs.

Michael Stidham’s Catnip was sent off favourite for the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth last month but was swamped by Therapist in the final furlong. He could still represent value here while Juddmonte’s Dansili gelding Set Piece is usually involved at the business end.

Richard Dutrow Jr’s Master Piece is another for the place and show bets.

SELECTION: Catnip Next Best: Adhamo

Third time lucky?

Charlie Appleby’s Silver Knott makes his third outing stateside this summer in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes (10.10pm) after a fifth place in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes and a third in the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge Stakes. Those runs were a little disappointing given his solid two-year-old form. The Lope De Vega colt can give his sire a 20th Group/Grade 1 win under Jamie Spencer.

Todd Pletcher’s Major Dude is the best of the US but it is an open contest with none of the US runners having won above Grade 3 level.

The Beverly D for fillies and mares is over a mile, a furlong and a half and fields two Irish-breds in the field of seven.

Fev Rover (Gutaifan) has been consistent at top level all season while Rocky Sky (Rock Of Gibraltar) represents Chad Brown and Peter Brant. Second favourite Gina Romantica also represents the Brown/Brant partnership.

Jamie Spencer rides Mise En Scene (Siyouni) for Brendan Walsh and Qatar, she won a Saratoga allowance race last time. Favourite is the Argentine-bred, Ignacio Correas-trained Didia. She has a win over this track and had won her two outings this year until she took second in the Grade 1 New York Stakes at Belmont.

Saratoga

The Spa will be hoping to avoid the misfortunes of the season with extra rain affecting the turf, the tragic death in the Test last Saturday and a power outage at the track on Wednesday.

Casa Creed, winner last time of the Grade 3 Kelso Stakes at this track bids for his second win in the race for Bill Mott. Todd Pletcher’s Annapolis, a Grade 1 winner last year, had started favourite there and was beaten a length.