 Chester House winning the Arlington Million, courtesy of Bill Selwyn |
Dateline: 08/19/00
A quality yet compact field of seven older horses met in the $2 million Arlington Million, before a crowd of 26,664 fans in attendance. There was no clear betting choice, with the lukewarm favorite Bienamado going off at 2.90-1. Argentine speedster Asidero set the pace for the first lap of the yielding course, setting splits of 24.20, 47.73, 1:11.85, and the mile in 1:37.30 before dropping out in the stretch. The globetrotting Running Stag stalked him the entire way, staying in second position but tired late and finished 6th.
The 3.30-1 second choice Manndar passed five horses in the stretch, but was mo match for Chester House. The 3.80-1 third choice collared him in mid-stretch and drew off to win by 3 1/4 lengths under Jerry Bailey, running the 1 1/4 mile distance in a respectible 2:01.37. Mula Gula, the longest shot on the board at 25.70-1, swung 6 wide in the stretch and rallied belatedly to get third place.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 2 Chester House Bailey 9.60 4.40 3.40 4 Manndar Nakatani 4.00 3.00 7 Mula Gula Guidry 4.60 Winning Time: 2:01.37 $2 Exacta 2-4 41.80 $2 Quinella 2-4 18.40 $2 Trifecta 2-4-7 392.60
 Beverly D. winner Snow Polina in the post parade |
Dateline: 08/19/00
A field of ten turf fillies and mares went to post Saturday in the $500,000 Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington. California based New Zealand bred trained by Bobby Frankel was the prohibitive choice at 0.60-1. Longshot Wild Heart Dancing set the early pace completing the quarter in 24.25 and the half in 49.68 before giving way to the fifth choice Elegant Ridge who had stalked her from the start. Elegant Ridge briefly held the lead under Kent Desormeaux reaching the 3/4 in 1:14.18 before plummeting in the stretch run. 4.50-1 second choice Snow Polina passed her at the top of the stretch, completing the mile in 1:38.72. Late running Happyanunoit made a 5 wide move on the far turn passing 4 horses late, but was unable to catch Snow Polina who beat her by a length and completed the 1 3/16 miles of yeilding turf in 1:55.87. Corey Nakatani brought home the 43.60-1 longshot Country Garden third.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 10 Snow Polina Bailey 11.00 3.20 3.00 3 Happyanunoit Blanc 2.40 2.20 2 Country Garden Nakatani 5.60 Winning Time: 2:01.37 $2 Exacta 10-3 24.40 $2 Quinella 3-10 8.40 $2 Trifecta 10-3-2 254.80
 Secretariat Stakes winner Ciro receives his flower blanket |
Dateline: 08/19/00
Eight three-year-old colts met up in the 1 1/4 mile Secretariat Stakes, to close out Arlington's International Festival of Racing. Jerry Bailey had already won the first two Grade 1 features on the card, and he had 0.60-1 odds-on favourite King Cugat in the finale.
Canadian invader Think Red from Sam-Son Farm was out of the gate and to the front early, setting the initial quarter in 23.93 before settling in second behind Pine Dance. The American Derby winner continued in 47.86, 1:12.13, and 1:37.31 before he gave way to King Cugat who collared him at the top of the stretch.
However, that lead would be short-lived. 4.80-1 second choice Ciro came on strong in deep stretch as jockey Mick Kinane denied Bailey the Festival hat trick, beating him by a length. The French invader Guillamou City got up for third place at odds of 34.10-1. The final time was 2:01.64, just a tick slower than the Million.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 8 Ciro Kinane 11.60 3.40 2.10 2 King Cugat Bailey 2.40 2.10 4 Guillamou City Nakatani 2.20 Winning Time: 2:01.37 $2 Exacta 8-2 28.40 $2 Quinella 2-8 9.20 $2 Trifecta 8-2-4 297.00 $2 Superfecta 8-2-4-7 1,887.00