2018 Arlington Million international scouting report: Deauville

After a pair of close thirds here in 2016 and 2017, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Deauville launches another raid on the Arlington Million (G1). The five-year-old son of Galileo doesn’t bring the same level of form this time, but he remains capable in the right circumstances.

Deauville’s first Million tilt came as a sophomore (his 2016 scouting report is accessible here), fresh off his biggest victory in the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1). His half-length loss to older European shipper Mondialiste was respectable, especially since no three-year-old since Tolomeo (1983) has managed to win the Million.

But Deauville missed again last summer, despite entering in top form (see his 2017 scouting report) and enjoying an ideal passage through the race. Indeed, short of stealing it up front himself, you could hardly have drawn up a better trip. He saved every yard of ground tracking a tepid pace, cut the corner to take command, and got beaten fair and square by Beach Patrol. The rub is that Deauville was also outfinished by the 73-1 Fanciful Angel for second, and he barely salvaged third from the 80-1 Enterprising.