Arlington Million Day Undercard Spot Plays

by JOE KRISTUFEK

National attention will be focused on the trio of Grade 1 turf stakes, but there horses running in the undercard races that might be worth wagering on and utilizing for multi-race purposes.

Wagering approach

Any attack strategy should be based on the strength of your opinion and the type of player you are. If you love a horse or a race, bet more. If you're a risk taker, swing for the fences. If you're conservative, construct your wagers accordingly. Personally, I'm somewhere in between.

Today's alternative action

I'm going to give myself a $150 budget to spread over the undercard races.

3rd Race

TOP PICK -- #8 Duchossois (3-1 ML)

I don't often suggest betting a horse because of their name, but in this case I'll make a major exception. He's a turf-bred, $350,000 yearling purchase for Midwest Thoroughbreds of former Arlington Million (G1) winner The Pizza Man fame and named for The Chairman.

The Wager

$20 win #8 Duchossois

Single in multi-race wagers

$20 total wagered so far

4th Race -- #3 Belfast Cowboy (4-1)

This 4-year-old son of Myboycharlie (the same sire as Beverly D. [G1] favorite Sistercharlie) has run big in a trip of Polytrack starts, but two turns on turf is what he was born to do. His dam only won two races in her career, but both were over 12 furlongs of green.

$5 win & $15 place #3 Belfast Cowboy = $20

$40 wagered so far

7th Race -- #7 Always a Catch (8-1)

He doesn't win often, but the vast majority of this career, he's been in just a little too tough. He fit like a glove last out, but checked completely out of it at the top of the stretch. He drops a notch off the claim here and is likely to fly under the radar.

$5 win, $10 place & $15 show #7 Always a Catch = $30

$70 wagered so far

8th Race -- #1 Chief Oakie Dokie (9-2)

I'm not willing to fade him completely, but I'm against The Tabulator, the likely favorite. Chief Oakie Dokie is even better than he looks on paper, and Arthur Coontz, an unknown trainer on the national scene, lured the top jockey in the country in Jose Ortiz for a Festival warm-up. He ran a close-up fourth behind a talented older field on turf last out, and his lone Polytrack run produced a game restricted stakes score.

$5 win, $10 place & $15 show #1 Chief Oakie Dokie = $30

$100 wagered so far

12th Race -- #7 Madame Milan

Much improved since adding blinkers this spring, this daughter of Bernardini ran a sneaky huge race in the local prep. After losing some five lengths at the start, she was in tight between foes on the turn, split rivals, finished strongly and galloped out best. She should fly way under the radar and is my longshot bomb of the weekend.

$2 exacta box 6, 7, 10, 13 = $24

$6 win, $10 place and $10 show #7 Madam Milan = $26

$150 wagered total