Arlington Million scouting report: Bookrunner

Bookrunner has the potential to be much better than he’s had the opportunity to show so far. American conditions might be the key to this American-bred son of Tiznow and Grade 3 winner Take the Ribbon (a daughter of 2000 Arlington Million [G1] romper Chester House).

Trainer Mikel Delzangles has rated Bookrunner very highly. And Delzangles has already had international success with Flotilla in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) and the globetrotting warrior Dunaden, best remembered for his victory in the Melbourne Cup (G1). In his latest American foray, he sent out Canndal to finish second at 9-1 in the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1).

Bookrunner was nominated to the 2014 U.S. Triple Crown, and his five-length debut conquest at Chantilly shows why connections entertained the possibility (clip starts at 1:26):

 

Runner-up Auvray later developed into a promising stayer. After taking the Prix de Lutece (G3) and Prix Chaudenay (G2) on Arc weekend, Auvray sold for approximately $1 million to China Horse Club. He’s now in Australia gearing up for a Cups campaign.

Bookrunner opted to focus on the European rather than American classics. Reappearing in the Prix Djebel (G3), he was forwardly placed throughout and checked in fourth in a blanket finish. That was an encouraging effort for a second lifetime start, especially considering that the winner, Charm Spirit, went on to win the Prix Jean Prat (G1), Prix du Moulin (G1) and Ascot’s Queen Elizabeth II (G1):