| French-based Spirit One wins Arlington Million |
| Sports - Sports News Headlines |
| Written by Associated Press |
| Saturday, 09 August 2008 22:57 |
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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) - French-based Spirit One won the 26th running of the Arlington Million on Saturday, leading from start to finish for an upset victory over an international field of seven turf horses.
Winning jockey Ioritz Mendizabal raised his arm in triumph after Spirit Open turned back favored Archipenko by three-quarters of a length. Then the Spanish-born jockey made a dash to the airport almost as soon as Spirit One finished the 1¼-mile Grade I stakes in 2:02.17. Mendizabal was needed in France on Sunday to ride stakes races at Deauville, hence his record-breaking sprint out of Arlington Park. Spirit One will soon follow, returning to France to recuperate. But trainer Philippe Demercastel said Spirit One probably will be back in the United States for the $3 million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf Oct. 25 at Santa Anita. Spirit One earned an automatic starting berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf by winning the Arlington Million. Demercastel, speaking through an interpreter, said he had heard about this perk given to the winner of the Million but wasn't certain until hearing it confirmed after the race. "I've been tempted for a while, especially with this horse, to try American racing," Demercastel said. Spirit Open paid $29.40, $10.20 and $6. Archipenko returned $3.40 and $2.60, and Mount Nelson paid $4 to show. Mendizabal kept the 4-year-old son of Anabaa Blue on a straightforward course around the track without ever having to deal with a serious challenge. The colt's connections had sent Spirit One to the United Statesbelieving that Irish-bred Sudan would have served as a target for Spirit One to run at in the race. Sudan was scratched with a tendon problem, leaving Spirit One without the target his stable had hoped for. This unexpected turn was not a problem, according to Mendizabal. He simply took over the lead that he had expected Sudan to take. "I took the lead because I wanted to run my race," the jockey said, "and he responded very well for me. "He quickened when I asked him to, so I never saw what was happening behind me." The only thing happening behind Spirit One was the bit of drama Einstein provided when he stumbled at the start. Jockey Robby Albarado claimed it cost Einstein the race. Archipenko went postward the favorite off his reputation: a globe-trotting filled dossier with wins in Hong Kong, England, and Dubai. He raced third, with a brief drop back to fourth while Spirit One cruised out front stalked by the English horse, Mount Nelson. Archipenko raced along the inside and could not get out in time to get closer to the front. Earlier, in the $400,000 Grade I Secretariat Stakes, Bertram and Diana Firestone's Winchester, racing for the first time in the United States, was a 7¼-length winner over Plan, followed by the even-money favorite, Tizdejavu. Winchester, whose only other win had been in Ireland, challenged pace-setting Tizdejavu turning for home on Arlington's turf course and pulled away at the top of the stretch to pay $17, $7.60, and $3.80. Irish-based Plan, also racing in this country for the first time, passed the tiring Tizdejavu in the final sixteenth to finish second ($5 and $2.80), with Tizdejavu holding on for third place and a $2.20 show price. Wearing down Precious Kitten and Dreaming of Anna in the final sixteenth of the $750,000 Grade I Beverly D. Stakes, Robert Scarborough's Mauralakana won by 1¼ lengths over second-place Communique in the 1 3-16 mile turf stakes. Mauralakana ($6.80, $4 and $3.40) won her fourth consecutive stakes race and an automatic starting position in the Emirates Airline $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Oct. 24 at Santa Anita. |