Expert picks: Arlington Million 2018 predictions
Saturday's Grade 1 Arlington Million, contested at 1 1/4 miles on turf that's sure to give a bit after rains this week in Chicago, will have one of at least two results.
With a victory, the favored Oscar Performance would cement himself as the horse to beat among older turf males, seeking a championship in his final season on track. Or any of the other runners at Arlington Park could use the feature as a coming out party of sorts.
Consider race day news that in addition to Divisidero, last out Grade 1 winner Spring Quality has scratched. And get the free past performances here.
Post time is set for 7:08 p.m. ET, and the NBC Sports Network will broadcast live to cap a card that also includes the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes and Beverly D.
Here's who Horse Racing Nation's staffers are picking:
Bryan Brinkmeyer, The Kentucky Derby Post (@thederbypost.com)
Winner: #10 Robert Bruce
On the board: #11 Oscar Performance, #8 Money Multiplier
Longshot I like: #9 Deauville
Analysis: A hot summer should continue for Chad Brown in the Arlington Million. His attempt to repeat in the Million Includes three entries, so the odds are certainly in his favor. But only one can win, and I’m taking Robert Bruce and Irad Ortiz Jr. to beat his brother, Jose, aboard Oscar Performance in a close race. Brown's other entries will be in the mix, as will Deauville, but I think these two will finish 1-2 keeping the rest of the field competing for third.
Jeffrey Byrnes, Byrnzzze's Corner (@jeffbyrnes96)
Winner: #11 Oscar Performance
On the board: #9 Deauville, #10 Robert Bruce
Longshot I like: #2 Spring Quality
Analysis: Oscar Performance comes into the Million in fine form. He returned from a seven-month layoff to win the Poker (G3) nicely. That race sets him up perfectly for this race. Already 1-for-1 over the Arlington turf, he will get a good stalking trip from the outside and can make a sustained run on the turn. If he shows that powerful turn of foot from last year, he can win. Deauville hasn't won often in his career, but in two tries in the Million, he has two third-place finishes but came close both times. Robert Bruce comes in off a nightmare trip in the Manhattan (G1). He was bottled up and had nowhere to go. If he were to win, he must stay out of trouble, get good positioning, and work his way through horses. Spring Quality is in career-best form. He won the Manhattan last out and seems to be getting better every race. He will get a good inside trip, and has a top veteran in Edgar Prado to guide him. I will play a 11-9-10-2 superfecta box.
Nick Costa, Trackside with Trackman
Winner: #5 Century Dream
On the board: #10 Robert Bruce, #11 Oscar Performance
Longshot I like: #5 Century Dream
Analysis: Century Dream exits a pair of close fourth-place finishes at Ascot, one of them a solid effort in the Group 2 Queen Anne Stakes. Adds first-time Lasix and gets reunited with jockey William Buick, who has two wins aboard the colt. Robert Bruce got bumped around pretty good last out in the Manhattan when he finished sixth, beaten just one length. He was perfect in six starts in his native Chile, including four Group 1s. Oscar Performance has started just once in 2018, but he made it count when winning the Poker following a 7 ½-month hiatus. He took the Secretariat Stakes (G1) over this course last year on Million day.
Candice Curtis (@skipaway2000)
Winner: #11 Oscar Performance
On the board: #2 Spring Quality, #5 Century Dream
Longshot I like: #5 Century Dream
Analysis: Not much speed here, and I can see Oscar Performance taking it wire-to-wire.
Casey Laughter, The Tattooed Tracksider (@claughter_media)
Winner: #11 Oscar Performance
On the board: #2 Spring Quality, #10 Robert Bruce
Longshot I like: #3 Almanaar
Analysis: You can make a case for most horses in this field, but I think Oscar Performance has the class and ability to win a race with this many top horses lines up against him. The only thing I am not happy about is that outside position. He will have to clear the field to get a good trip, and he will have company up front.
Jasen Mangrum, Handicapper's Corner (@Cappercorner)
Winner: #3 Almanaar
On the board: #8 Money Multiplier, #10 Robert Bruce
Longshot I like: #5 Century Dream
Analysis: Century Dream and Deauville should keep plenty of pressure on Oscar Performance early, so look for Almanaar to rally off the pace at a square price for trainer Chad Brown. Money Multiplier and Robert Bruce both had a troubled trips last out, and clean trips make both of them major players.
Christine Oser (@cb_oser)
Winner: #11 Oscar Performance
On the board: #2 Spring Quality, #10 Robert Bruce
Longshot I like: #5 Century Dream
Analysis: If Oscar Performance improves off his one winning start this year, then he's sitting on a big one for the Arlington Million, plus he won here last year in the Secretariat at the same distance. Spring Quality is hard to ignore with his rallying victory in the Manhattan, but Robert Bruce did beat him back in the spring. As for Century Dream, who has won in Europe and finished a bang-up fourth in the Queene Anne, he's a potential upset for the Americans.
Mary Dixon Reynolds, The Gallop Out (@nchorseplayer)
Winner: #11 Oscar Performance
On the board: #8 Money Multiplier, #10 Robert Bruce
Longshot I like: #3 Almanaar
Analysis: Oscar Performance loves the Arlington turf course and has done little wrong in his career. Another Chad Brown trainee, Almanaar, had won several stakes outside the country before coming to the United States. His last stakes win was the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap in 2017.
Kate Richards, Racing Hearts
Winner: #10 Robert Bruce
On the board: #8 Money Multiplier, #9 Deauville
Longshot I like: #11 Oscar Performance
Analysis: The Chad Brown combo of the Robert Bruce and Money Multiplier claim obvious front positions. Aidan O'Brien's shipper, Deauville, has the ability to thwart the Brown runners. Oscar Performance will be in the mix depending on the weather. He ran a top race last out on an extremely firm turf course.