The ONLY other day of racing that matters.......during the 40 days at the Spa!

Usually mid July and all of August, the racing focus and my columns are on the 40 days of racing at Saratoga . The Haskell Stakes at Monmouth and Arlington Million Day are the only times I stray away from the best thoroughbred racing in the world! The ONLY wagering I concentrate on is the Spa, very few other plays are made during this special time of the year. Today is one such day, when the finest grass thoroughbreds in the world gather in Chicago for the Arlington Million and three other turf stakes. Big fields and plenty of inexpensive exotic wagers are available on their biggest event of the racing season.

The one thing that has concerned me in recent years on this day was that NYRA would card their biggest older horse grass marathon race (the Sword Dancer Invitational) the same day as the Arlington Million. Fortunately with turf racing being a premium going distance of ground in recent years with major stars, this year's two fields have drawn nice big fields (both with 13 entries). Which brings up the question; why has the Breeder's Cup Turf field in recent years been under 10 runners? But more on that down the road when we get closer to that race in the Fall. Today we have two fantastic grade I races on the weeds and as a local handicapper would say; "the proper surface".

In this year's Million, there are six runners with European flavor with five of those making their U.S. debuts. The fine Arlington turf course, the prestige and one million payout are the reasons that this race is the premier turf race in the country. It's going to be the European flavor that I gravitate toward in the 31st edition of this race. My top selection draws the far outside post, he did race here stateside last year as a three year old in California and was successful. Grandeur (#13) trained by Jeremy Noseda makes his first start off the layoff today after a nice 2nd place finish in a group II event at York . Four for five at the mile and a half distance with two victories, this gray gelding gets the call for me at the 7/2 morning line odds. For 2nd in my exacta box; I'm going with another import, this time a Argentina bred who won a mile turf restricted stake at Del Mar recently. Indy Point (#7) trained by Richard Mandella (who has good success with these South American imports) wheels this colt back quickly after that July 24th victory. Although he has more victories on dirt, one of his two turf victories was at the Million distance.

With this 13-7 exacta box, I'll be using these three horses underneath in my exotics and multi-race plays; Rahystrada (#12) recent winner of the Arlington Handicap (prep race for this) and who has four victories in seven races over the Arlington turf course. Real Solution (#1) this Chad Brown / Ken Ramsey trainee was a even 3rd in the Manhattan at Belmont on a yielding surface. Lightly raced, this Pennsylvania bred who raced in Italy before coming stateside may improve today & Hunter's Light (#3) who gets lasix first time stateside for Godolphin and has back class in turf marathons in Europe .

My exotic play in the Arlington Million All-Stakes Pick Four starting in the 7th race is; 1/4 with 7/9 with 6/7 with 7/13 (50 cent play = $8.00 ticket) and "saver" ticket : 8 with 10 with 2/4 with 9/12 (50 cent play = $2.00 ticket).