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Chicago odds makers reckon Aidan O'Brien could be in line for a memorable G1 double at Arlington on Saturday after both Cape Blanco and Treasure Beach were installed as short-priced favourites for the international features following Tuesday's post draw.
Photo by Pat Healy Photography
Cape Blanco, the mount of Jamie Spencer, is rated just a 9-5 chance to land his second US Grade 1 victory after being drawn in gate seven of a ten-runner field for the Arlington Million.
Locals odds makers prefer the four-year-old to his Man o'War Stakes rival Gio Ponti (drawn five), who is a 2-1 shot to repeat his 2009 success at Arlington.
The dual US turf champ was narrowly beaten last year in the Million by Debussy.
The Michael Bell-trained Wigmore Hall will start from gate nine as he bids to go one better than 2010 when he was runner-up at Arlington in the Secretariat Stakes.
Christophe Soumillon rides France's Zack Hall, the third overseas runner.
Cape Blanco's Ballydoyle stablemate Treasure Beach, easily the highest-rated European horse ever to contest the race, is a 2-1 chance for the G1 Secretariat Stakes for three-year-olds.
The Irish Derby winner will be ridden by Colm O'Donoghue in the $400,000 event. He starts from gate three with his nine rivals including the Aga Khan's G3 winner Ziyarid.
O'Brien has won both races before with Powerscourt taking out the Million in 2005, five years after he won the Secretariat Stakes with Ciro.
Gerard Butler's Pachattack, a G3 winner at Arlington in May, has drawn gate eight for the third G1 event on Saturday, the Beverly D for fillies and mares.
The Mike de Kock-trained River Jetez (Soumillon) joins the British visitor in the $750,000 event where the ex-French mare Stacelita, making her debut for New York-based Chad Brown, is the morning line favourite at 3-1.
Stacelita's owner Martin Schwartz has won the Beverly D twice with Angara (2005) and Gorella (2006).
Stacelita will start from the inside gate in an 11-runner field featuring the ex-Luca Cumani-trained Fantasia and Simon Callaghan's Dubawi Heights.
Saturday's Grade 1 fields at Arlington
Arlington Million (Grade 1) 1m2f, turf, 3yo+ ($1 million)
1 Rahystrada Sheldon Russell 12-1
2 Tajaaweed James Graham 12-1
3 Dean's Kitten Julien Leparoux 30-1
4 Zack Hall Christophe Soumillon 10-1
5 Gio Ponti Ramon Dominguez 2-1
6 Proceed Bee Chris Emigh 50-1
7 Cape Blanco Jamie Spencer 9-5
8 Mission Approved Jose Espinoza 6-1
9 Wigmore Hall Hayley Turner 8-1
10 General Perfect Garrett Gomez 50-1
Beverly D Stakes (Grade 1) 1m1½f, turf, 3yo+ f/m ($750,000)
1 Stacelita Ramon Dominguez 3-1
2 Check The Label Julien Leparoux 20-1
3 Fantasia Rajiv Maragh 6-1
4 Upperline James Graham 20-1
5 Dubawi Heights Joel Rosario 10-1
6 River Jetez Christophe Soumillon 4-1
7 Cheetah Garrett Gomez 9-2
8 Pachattack Florent Geroux 10-1
9 Eclair De Lune Junior Alvarado 12-1
10 Romin Robin Jozbin Santana 30-1
11 Never Retreat Shaun Bridgmohan 10-1
Secretariat Stakes 1m2f, turf, 3yo ($400,000)
1 Newsdad Joel Rosario 10-1
2 Ziyarid Christophe Lemaire 10-1
3 Treasure Beach Colm O'Donoghue 2-1
4 Crimson China Rajiv Maragh 15-1
5 Casino Host Ramon Dominguez 8-1
6 Suntracer Shaun Bridgmohan 15-1
7 Banned Garrett Gomez 3-1
8 Derby Kitten Julien Leparoux 15-1
9 Willcox Inn Robby Albarado 9-2
10 L'Aiglon Florent Geroux 50-1