Million field small, but purse prodigious

What if they scheduled a $2 million horse race and nobody came?

Things haven't gotten quite that dire with the reborn ArlingtonMillion on Saturday. But a record-low seven horses drew in Wednesdayfor the 18th renewal of the 1 1/4-mile turf classic.

"We are in the midst of a magnificent week," said Richard L.Duchossois, the chairman of Arlington International Racecourse. "Whatthis field lacks in numbers, it makes up for in quality. Every horsein this race is a champion-in North America, in South America, inEurope. This is a very exciting time for both international racingand racing in Illinois."

Those times will get even more exciting for the connections of oneof the newest Arlington seven Saturday when one elevated grass starraces off with first-place money of $1.2 million. That's double thewinnings the first 17 Million champs earned.

The Million, which will be contested for the first time since1997, is the featured ninth race on a strong 12-race card atArlington. Two other Grade I grass events-the $500,000 Beverly D. andthe $400,000 Secretariat-also will be run, as will three minorstakes.

Put up Wednesday as the morning-line favorite after the Millionpost draw was Manndar (5-2), the Irish-bred colt who closed a briefspring campaign with back-to-back Grade I victories in the WoodfordReserve at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day and in the ManhattanHandicap at Belmont four weeks later.

"We've been aiming for the Million all along," said trainer BeauGreely, 29, whose star drew post position No. 4 and will be ridden byCorey Nakatani. "At 1 1/4 miles and with that purse, this will be hisBreeders' Cup race. This race is his best distance."

Second choice, according to Kentucky-based linesmaker MikeBattaglia, is Bienamado, the Paco Gonzalez trainee who was 2-for-2 atHollywood Park after arriving in the United States from France (viaCanada) in June. The Bien Bien colt last rolled in the Grade IISunset Handicap at Hollywood on July 23.

"With only seven horses, you're not going to get a bad post," saidGonzalez, whose Kentucky-bred will break from post position No. 5under Kent Desormeaux. "Besides, we have tactical speed. And in arace where you're going to have clear speed with horses like Slicklyand Asidero, we should be in a good spot."

Third choice on the first board was Slickly (7-2), the lone trueEuropean horse in the race and the representative of the powerfulGodolphin Racing operation of Dubai's royal al-Maktoum family. Othermid-shots were Bobby Frankel's Chester House (4-1) and Asidero (5-1), the Argentine-bred trained by three-time Million winner RonMcAnally.

"We're set," said McAnally, who won Millions with John Henry (1981and 1984) and Tight Spot (1991). "This colt was 5-for-5 in Argentina(under trainer Juan Etchechoury) before we got him this spring. Hisonly race for us (an optional $125,000 claimer at Hollywood six weeksago) was very good."

The two long shots in the field are Phillip Mitchell's well-traveled Running Stag (12-1) and Mula Gula (12-1).

Posts also were drawn and opening odds posted for the Beverly D.and the Secretariat. The Beverly D., at 1 3/16 miles on the lawn,attracted 10 fillies and mares headlined by Happyanunoit (post No. 3,7-5), America (post No. 6, 7-2) and Snow Polina (post No. 10, 4-1).

Others scheduled to start include Only To You (post No. 1, 10-1),Diamond White (post No. 9, 10-1), Country Garden (post No. 2, 15-1),Elegant Ridge (post No. 4, 15-1), Harvey Vanier's supplemented WadeFor Me (post No. 5, 15-1), Alluring (post No. 7, 20-1) and Wild HeartDancing (post No. 8, 20-1).

The eight-horse Secretariat, at 1 1/4 miles on the green for 3-year-olds, is headlined by Bill Mott's King Cugat (post No. 2, 4-5).Others slated to go postward are Pine Dance (post No. 1, 5-1), Ciro(post No. 8, 5-1), Think Red (post No. 3, 6-1), Slew Valley (post No.5, 10-1), Hymn (post No. 7, 10-1), Guillamou City (post No. 4, 15-1)and Compton Bolter (post No. 6, 30-1).