European Hopes Get Familiar With Arlington

(from Arlington Park notes)
Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd.'s colt Simple Exchange, one of several prominent European invaders for Saturday's Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT), worked Wednesday at Arlington Park.

Also working was Ingeborg von Schubert & Gary A. Tanaka's French-raced, German-bred mare Aubonne, who competes in the Beverly D. (gr. IT).

Irish-bred Simple Exchange, who won Arlington's American Derby (gr. IIT) July 24 in his first American start, breezed three furlongs over the grass course in :36 4/5 in preparation for the $400,000 Secretariat for 3-year-olds. Irish exercise rider Liam McCarthy was aboard for the turf course move, accomplished with the "dogs" well out from the rail.

"I'm very pleased," said Jeff Byrne, Irish trainer Dermot Weld's longtime head traveling assistant as Simple Exchange completed his move. "He didn't need a whole lot. He's fresh and sweet. He's ready."

Aubonne, campaigned solely in France thus far this season, breezed three-eighths on Arlington's main track in a leisurely :40 4/5 under French exercise rider Lauren Bonnier. Trained by Eric Libaud, the 4-year-old filly won the La Coupe Stakes (Fr-III) at Longchamp in her last start June 17.

Other Europeans on track for Saturday's International Festival of Wednesday morning were German-bred Arlington Million runner Epalo, owned by Tanaka, who had an easy canter once around the oval with Elke Schutz, wife of trainer Andreas Schutz, astride. Epalo's year thus far is highlighted by a win in the Singapore Airlines International Cup (Sng-I), second leg of the World Series Racing Championship. The Arlington Million is the fourth leg of that series.

Another candidate for the Arlington Million, Godolphin Racing Inc.'s Vespone, galloped twice around the oval with Stephen Childs aboard. Godolphin's Beverly D. prospect Crimson Palace, a South African-bred mare, also galloped twice around with Rachel Dore astride.

Also galloping once around the main track Wednesday was Team Block's Mystery Giver, the locally based Arlington Million candidate, and Willmott Stables Inc.'s Aud, an American-based Beverly D. prospect.