Arlington Park’s Late Pick 4 on Arlington Million Day

The 50-cent Late Pick 4 kicks off in Race 9 at Arlington Park in the Beverly D. Stakes (G1) for fillies and mares going 1 3/16 miles. FLEETING (#1) (5-2) is a three-year-old taking on older rivals for the first time. She has been in against the best in Europe for Aidan O’Brien and other than her seasonal debut going a mile, she has run three straight strong races against high-caliber competition. Daughter of Zoffany draws the rail and gets in with 117 pounds and Ryan Moore. A ground-saving trip and first-time Lasix should put her right in the mix here. SISTERCHARLIE (#7) (8-5) has won four straight Grade 1s, including her seasonal debut at Saratoga four weeks ago where it looked like she might have been vulnerable. Irish-bred closes relentlessly in her races and the wide, sweeping turns of the course that will be used today will be to her benefit. She got up in time here last year off the same pattern and will be tough again today. AWESOMETANK (#2) (8-1) is a British shipper from William Haggas, who is as good a big-race trainer as there is over there. This is a move up in class for her but she has plenty of speed and should get a trip from the inside. Florent Geroux picks up the mount. TOP PICKS Fleeting (#1) Sistercharlie (#7) Awesometank (#2) $10 exacta wheel 1 with 2, 7 $.50 Pick 4: 1, 2, 7 with 3, 4, 6, 7 with 1, 2, 3, 10 with 4, 9, 10, 11 Race 10 is the Secretariat Stakes (G1) for three-year-olds going one mile on the turf. Aidan O’Brien sent far better horses here for half the money than he did to the $1 million Saratoga Derby. NEVER NO MORE (#3) (6-1) began this year with two sharp wins, including one over Madhmoon who came back to run second in the Epsom Derby (G1). He’s been off for 126 days after missing the classics season and shows up here with Ryan Moore. Son of No Nay Never drops eight pounds off his last win. VALID POINT (#7) (5-1) is a son of Scat Daddy who won his career debut going this distance at Gulfstream Park then came back four months later to win at Belmont Park in very fast time. He moves up in class for Chad Brown and gets Javier Castellano back aboard. FOG OF WAR (#6) (3-1) won a Grade 1 last September going this distance at Woodbine then returned at Belmont Park going seven furlongs where he weakened late when sitting behind a slow pace. He came back in a stakes race there and just missed when Lasix was added and should appreciate firm ground today. THE LAST ZIP (#4) (6-1) broke his maiden two starts back then shipped here and just missed in the American Derby (G3). He took his time figuring the game out but at least he still has some upside. TOP PICKS Never No More (#3) Valid Point (#7) Fog of War (#6) The Last Zip (#4) $30 Win #3 $10 exacta wheel 4, 6, 7 with 3 Race 11 is the 37th running of the Arlington Million (G1) for three-year-olds and upward going 1 1/4 miles on the turf. BRICKS AND MORTAR (#3) (8-5) has been a monster since returning from a long layoff due to surgery. He has won his last five starts and three of them were Grade 1. At equal weights and post three, he is the strongest of this group and his fast and steady workouts on the turf at Saratoga should have him ready for Chad Brown to win another Million. ROBERT BRUCE (#1) (7-2) is the defending champion after winning this last year with a late surge. He hasn’t won a race since then but his second-place finish in the Manhattan Handicap (G1) behind Bricks and Mortar shows he is back at his favorite distance. Javier Castellano can save ground from the rail until the stretch. MAGIC WAND (#2) (5-1) is a four-year-old filly who ran well in a Group 1 two starts back in Ireland. Throw out her last on soft ground in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (G1) at Ascot and she has run well in her three starts in America. BANDUA (#10) (6-1) has a win over the course in very good time and can get a piece of this with a repeat of that effort. TOP PICKS Bricks and Mortar (#3) Robert Bruce (#1) Magic Wand (#2) Bandua (#10) $10 exacta wheel 3 with 1, 2, 10 Finally, Race 12 is the Pucker Up Stakes (G3) for three-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. INDIGO GIN (#4) (6-1) beat allowance foes here two starts back going gate to wire then came back and did it again in the Hatoof Stakes which is the prep for this. Her liking this course and tactical speed should help her get a trip and could be tough to run down. WINTER SUNSET (#9) (7-2) was only beaten a length in the Florida Oaks (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs by Concrete Rose, who only turned out to be the dominant sophomore filly turfer and would be odds-on in here. Winter Sunset came back to run third after an awkward start in the Edgewood Stakes (G3) but improved last out with a good second in the Regret Stakes (G3) when she stalked a slow pace. CAFÉ AMERICANO (#11) (3-1) won her first two career starts on the turf then came back and raced evenly going 10 furlongs when forced wide at a crucial point. She has to overcome a wide draw here so Irad Ortiz Jr. will have to use her some going into the first turn. ART OF ALMOST (#10) (5-1) broke her maiden on the Tapeta at Woodbine in her sixth career start and then beat allowance foes on the turf by 4 1/2 lengths. She was a good third there last out in the grassy Dance Smartly Stakes (G2) but she will have to used hard going into the first turn instead of settling like she likes to. TOP PICKS Indigo Gin (#4) Winter Sunset (#9) Café Americano (#11) Art of Almost (#10) 20 Win 4 $20 exacta wheel 9, 10, 11 with 4 PHOTO: Sistercharlie (c) Coady Photography/Arlington Park