Robert Bruce seeks back-to-back Arlington Million titles
Robert Bruce returns to Arlington Park on Saturday looking to make history.
No horse has ever won the Grade 1 Arlington Million in two straight seasons.
The Chilean-bred Robert Bruce on Saturday can become the first horse ever to win back-to-back Millions and would become the second horse in history to win the race twice, following in the footsteps of the legendary John Henry.
So far, Robert Bruce has yet to find the winner’s circle in 2019.
He finished a solid second June 8 at Belmont Park in the Manhattan Stakes (G1) behind Bricks and Mortar, who will be the heavy favorite in the 37th Arlington Million.
The second-place finish was the best finish of the year so far for Robert Bruce, and the 5-year-old trained by Chad Brown will come into the Arlington Million in peak condition.
A son of Fast Company, Robert Bruce is campaigned by Convento Viejo LLC.
Robert Bruce started his career 6-for-6 in his native Chile before coming to the U.S. in 2018 as a 4-year-old.
During his American racing career, Robert Bruce has produced two wins over seven starts, all of which have come in graded stakes.
Along with his 2018 Arlington Million victory, Robert Bruce also won that year’s Fort Marcy Stakes (G3) at Belmont.
Robert Bruce on Saturday can etch his name in the Arlington history books alongside legendary runners like John Henry.
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In 1981, John Henry was the richest horse in training.
The leading money rider in history, Bill Shoemaker, got aboard and the two went on to win the richest thoroughbred at the time in the inaugural running of the Arlington Million at Arlington Park.
In 1984, John Henry returned for his second victory in the four-year history of this race.
After winning the inaugural running in 1981, he skipped the 1982 edition with a pulled muscle and came back for the 1984 Million where he became the first horse to win the race twice.
The victory gave John Henry the Horse of the Year title, which he had also won three years prior.
He was also named Champion Turf Male for the second year in a row.
A few decades later, Gio Ponti had the opportunity to become the first horse ever to win the Arlington Million in back-to-back seasons, and only the second horse to win it twice when he showed up on 2010.
Gio Ponti was turned away that day, finishing second to Debussy in a valiant effort.