Secretariat Stakes and Arlington Million
9.50 Arlington, Secretariat Stakes
Belmont Derby winner Oscar Performance is the one to beat here, along with Permian, but the both have to concede 7lb to the likes of Afandem and Sonic Boom.
Permian , Oscar Performance and Sonic Boom all like to race forward, if not lead and they could set it up for something else from behind, though Permian is the one most likely to be suited by a strong pace he will be content to sit behind. I’m still going to chance Sonic Boom, who is available at 16/1 with the UK bookies, who receives 7lb from the two market leaders. I will also go with Afandem, who also gets 7lb and he may get to pick up the pieces late on if the speed duel does develop; he is a bigger price with the UK bookies at 11/2 than what is forecast on the morning line.
Recommended Bets
Sonic Boom, 16/1
Afandem, 11/2
12.19 Arlington, Arlington Million
Two European horses in Deauville and Mekhtaal travel over to Arlington Park for this year’s Arlington Million, but it could pay to side with the home team at the prices.
If this race was being run in France I would fancy Mekhtaal to win, but he is unproven on really quick ground and the travelling over has to be a negative, having ran below form at Ascot recently. He has also ended up with the worst draw on the wide outside in 13, for a horse that usually likes to race handily this puts him at a big disadvantage.
Deauville is the favourite on both sides of the Atlantic, available with the UK bookies at 2/1 but forecast a 7/2 morning line favourite. He won last year’s Belmont Derby before running in last year’s Arlington Million. He went on to finish third to Mondialiste, beaten less than half a length with another of today’s runners Kasaqui a neck in front of him.
Kasaqui will be making his fourth visit to Arlington, a place he clearly likes having won and been placed the other two times. He came close to winning last year’s race, finishing just a neck behind Mondialiste with late crowding possibly just costing him the win. Kasaqui is forecast a 5/1 shot on the US morning line, but can be backed at 10/1 with the UK bookies. Having already finished in front on Deauville here, he has to be backed at that price.
Beach Patrol has been an expensive horse to follow, but his last win came at this meeting last year in the Secretariat Stakes. He has been racing at the highest level in US turf races and will like this quick ground and for once he will be racing off level weights, having recently raced conceding weight to his rivals. He will be racing up with the pace and is sure to be there at the finish if he can get away spiritedly from stall 10.
Beach Patrol is a best priced 15/2 and it could pay to also dutch him with Kasaqui against the field.
Recommended Bets
Kasaqui, 10/1
Beach Patrol, 15/2
