European-based Adelaide and American-bred and based Tourist top a field of nine 3-year-olds entered for the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) Aug. 16 at 1 1/4 miles and a quarter over the Arlington International Racecourse turf course.
Adelaide has been installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite off his runner-up finish in the Belmont Derby (gr. IT) July 5, which marked the U.S. debut for the Galileo colt. He races for the Coolmore-affiliated partnership of Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, John Ingham, Bill Webb, John Murray, and Tom Magnier,
A group III winner in Ireland, Adelaide arrived at Belmont Park off a runner-up finish as the favorite to Eagle Top in the King Edward VII Stakes (Eng-II) June 20 at Royal Ascot. He has finished first or second in all five of his career starts.
Adelaide is trained by two-time Secretariat winner Aidan O'Brien, who in 2011 won it with Treasure Beach, also a son of Galileo who was campaigned by partners associated with Coolmore. Jockey Ryan Moore will be looking for his first Secretariat victory.
WinStar Farm's Tourist has won every race since Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott moved the son of Tiznow to the grass earlier this year. After breaking his maiden over the Gulfstream Park lawn in February and earning a little rest, he has won twice more including a gate-to-wire score in the restricted Sir Cat Stakes at Saratoga Race Course last out.
Despite his lack of racing against top-level company, he comes in highly regarded, having posted some of the best speed figures among the entrants, Arlington Park officials report. Like O'Brien, Mott will be looking for his third Secretariat victory and jockey Joel Rosario will try to secure his first.
"It wasn't surprising to see him run so well (in the Sir Cat)," Mott said. "After seeing his first two starts on the grass, we knew he belonged at this level, and now we have an opportunity to run in a grade I."
Glen Hill Farm's Global View, also a son of Galileo, will try to secure the third graded stakes win of his career and first grade I score. Trained by Tom Proctor, Global View won this year's American Turf Stakes (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs.
Rounding out the field are American Derby (gr. IIIT) winner Divine Oath and third-place finisher Highball. O'Brien also will send out Belisarius, a stakes winner in Ireland.
The remainder of the Secretariat lineup is American-based and includes F. Thomas Conway and trainer Mike Maker's stakes winner General Jack; Albert Frassetto's Can'thelpbelieving, an allowance winner last out for trainer Graham Motion; and Ninety North Racing Stable's Sheldon, the Jimmy Toner-trained colt who finished fifth in the Belmont Derby in July.
Secretariat S. (G1T)
Arlington International Racecourse, Saturday, August 16, 2014, Race 8
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Global View (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 123 Thomas F. Proctor - 2 2Highball (KY) Lanfranco Dettori 119 Wayne M. Catalano - 3 3Belisarius (IRE) Colm O'Donoghue 119 Aidan P. O'Brien - 4 4General Jack (KY) Robby Albarado 123 Michael J. Maker - 5 5Sheldon (KY) Javier Castellano 119 James J. Toner - 6 6Adelaide (IRE) Ryan L. Moore 119 Aidan P. O'Brien - 7 7Divine Oath (KY) Florent Geroux 123 Todd A. Pletcher - 8 8Can'thelpbelieving (IRE) James Graham 119 H. Graham Motion - 9 9Tourist (KY) Joel Rosario 121 William I. Mott -
