Nominations to Mid-American Triple Have International Flavor

The 2001 Mid-American Triple is highlighted by purse increases, and 257 nominations, including 45 submitted by the International Racing Bureau.

The series of turf races for three-year-olds kicks off with the 67th running of the grade II Arlington Classic at 1 1/8 miles on June 30, followed by the grade II American Derby over 1 3/16 miles, scheduled to be run for the 87th time on July 22. Total purses for the trio of races have been increased by $100,000 -- a $50,000 boost in each of the first two legs -- from a year ago to $850,000.

The triple concludes on International Festival of Racing Day at Arlington Park on Aug. 18, with the 25th edition of the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) at 1 1/4 miles. On that Saturday, Illinois' only three grade 1 stakes will be run for only the third time on the same day with the $1 million Arlington Million and the $500,000 Beverly D. combining with the Secretariat for total purse money of $1.9 million in those three races.

On the list of 257 original nominees are 44 foreign breds including, 16 Irish breds, 12 from Great Britain, four French breds and one each from Japan and Switzerland.

The trainer with the most Mid-America Triple nominations is Elliott Walden with 17, followed by Irish-conditioner Dermot Weld with 14. Bill Mott is next with 12 and Robert Hess and D. Wayne Lukas have nine each.

International powerhouse Godolphin Racing, Inc. is tops on the owner's list with seven nominees while five other stables have four apiece Fog City Stable, Full Circle Racing, Padua Stables, Stronach Stables, Inc. and Team Valor.

Late closing dates for the three races are– the Arlington Classic on Wed., June 6, American Derby on Wed., July 4 and Secretariat Stakes on Wed. July 25, 2001.

Arlington Park's 102-day meet runs from June 13 through Oct. 28, 2001.