Arlington Million scouting report: Elleval

Elleval has a profile reminiscent of Million rival Belgian Bill, in that both are primarily veterans of the handicap ranks who are venturing outside of their comfort zones into Grade 1 company.

Unlike Belgian Bill, however, Elleval is perhaps at his best at 1 1/4 miles.

A regular at the Dubai Carnival for the past three years, Elleval was second to Godolphin’s high-class Hunter’s Light in a January 29 handicap. This marked the beginning of a three-race spree for Hunter’s Light, who added the Dubai Millennium and Jebel Hatta (G1):

 

Two starts later, Elleval was a troubled third in another 1 1/4-mile handicap at Meydan, where he was buried on the inside and didn’t see daylight until it was too late: