The Corsican could take Glorious stepping stone to Arlington Million

When The Corsican was scratched from last Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (G1) because of the soft going, I thought that he was heading straight to the August 15 Arlington Million (G1). But trainer David Simcock has kept him in Friday's Glorious (G3) at Goodwood, so the 1 1/2-mile test may serve as a stepping stone to Arlington.

The Corsican is the projected favorite in the wake of his fine fourth in the Prince of Wales's (G1) at Royal Ascot. That came over perhaps his best trip of 1 1/4 miles, however. The son of Galileo has won at 1 1/2 miles, but in a maiden on the Kempton Polytrack. Following a fifth in last summer's Bahrain Trophy (G3) at Newmarket, he shortened up and hasn't looked back. On the other hand, The Corsican is two-for-two at Goodwood, including a comeback victory in the May 23 Festival prior to Royal Ascot.

The Glorious includes a few bona fide 1 1/2-mile types -- the progressive Connecticut, who ran off by 16 lengths versus lesser in the Pontefract Castle; reigning Canadian International (G1) winner Hillstar, who has taken some time to regain form after a bout of pneumonia over the winter; Dubday, coming off a near-miss to the talented Gospel Choir in the Fred Archer; Windshear, who nearly beat Snow Sky in the Gordon (G3) over this course and distance last year; and Mark Johnston's upwardly mobile handicapper Watersmeet.

However The Corsican fares at the upper end of his distance range on Friday (at 9 a.m. EDT), he's entitled to breeze into Arlington as a serious contender. The 1 1/4 miles on likely quick ground suits him well, and he has a pedigree connection to Chicagoland. His dam, Walklikeanegyptian, bolted up in an Arlington allowance before finishing second in the 2006 Pucker Up (G3). And Galileo has already sired a Million winner in Cape Blanco, who sported the same colors of Mrs. Fitri Hay here in 2011.