Gary A. Tanaka's Epalo, the first of four European invaders to arrive at Arlington Park for the upcoming Arlington Million (gr. IT) Aug. 14, was on his toes -- alert and interested -- while being walked behind his barn by Elke Schutz Saturday morning. Epalo, who was second by a nose in Germany's listed Globetrotter Trophy Stakes at Cologne last Sunday, had been away from the races for 11 weeks. In his previous effort May 16 in Singapore, the multi-continental competitor had captured the Singapore Airlines International Cup (Sing-I), second leg of the 2004 World Series Racing Championship. The Arlington Million will be the fourth leg of this year's World Series. "That race Sunday was a good one for him," said Mrs. Schutz. "He should be ready for a very good race in the Arlington Million."
"He likes the weather here much better than in Germany," said Mrs. Schutz, wife of trainer Andreas Schutz, who will not arrive in Chicago until Monday evening. "It has been raining at home. A little while ago Epalo was looking up at the sun as if to say: 'What is that? There is no rain here.' "He feels good, he traveled well, and the flight was a good one," said Mrs. Schutz. "Long, but good." The German-bred 5-year-old arrived at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport Friday afternoon on a KLM equine charter from Amsterdam.