Arlington Million Notebook

Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof's Silvano, perhaps the strongest of four European contestants in Saturday's Arlington Million (gr. IT), breezed five furlongs from a standing start in 1:02 4/5 over the Arlington turf course Wednesday morning.

"That was a good work," said Silvano's jockey Andreas Suborics, who was aboard for the Wednesday move. "He moved well on the track, and I think that was a good time for him from a standing start."

Illinois State clocker Bobby Belpedio, who recorded the move, was also impressed.

"You had to see it to believe it," Belpedio said later. "Our horses (American) always 'run-and-gun' it between the poles."

Racing manager Simon Stokes, who accompanied Silvano on his flight from Frankfurt to Chicago last Saturday, was also pleased with the work.

"Every thing is well with the horse," Stokes said. "He shipped well, he's happy in himself and eating well, so there are no negatives. I think he's in the sort of form he was in when he won in Singapore. He'll like this track and the distance, and he goes well left-handed."

Silvano won the Singapore Cup at Kranji in March, defeating fellow European Arlington Million rival Caitano, owned by Gary Tanaka, by 5 1/2 lengths.

THE GANG'S NEARLY ALL HERE

John Greely III, Tom Nichols & Columbine Stable's Takarian breezed three furlongs in :37 over the Arlington Park grass course Wednesday in an easy move with the "dogs" up.

An international equine flight from Amsterdam to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport brought five European contestants to the Arlington Park barn area shortly after 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Aboard the flight were Million contestants Muakaad, owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum; Caitano; and Compton Bolter, who races in the silks of Erik Penser. Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) contestants on the same flight were Aldwych, owned by Newgate Stud (executors of Prince Fahd Salman); and Snowstorm, who races for Lord Blyth & R.P.B. Michaelson.

A second European equine flight from Paris brought Beverly D. (gr. IT) candidate Di Moi Oui, owned by Grundy Bloodstock. That British-bred but primarily French-campaigned filly arrived on the grounds at Arlington at 2 a.m. Wednesday.

NAKATANI RIDES PINCAY'S FESTIVAL MOUNTS

Jockey Corey Nakatani has been named to Takarian in the Million and Columbine Stable's Sligo Bay in the Secretariat during the International Festival of Racing.

Nakatani is a late replacement for Laffit Pincay Jr., who rode Sligo Bay in the American Derby (gr. IIT) July 22 and had been named to pick up the mount on Takarian several days ago, before the late change of plans was announced.

Among Nakatani's biggest wins is a tally in the 1995 Beverly D. aboard Possibly Perfect. Others include Breeders' Cup scores in the 1999 Mile (gr. IT) at Gulfstream Park aboard Silic; and in the 1996 Distaff (gr. I) at Woodbine astride Jewel Princess.

Nakatani rode the winner of the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) three years in a row, piloting Lit de Justice in 1996 at Woodbine, Elmhurst in 1997 at Hollywood Park, and Reraise in 1998 at Churchill Downs.