Robert Bruce surges late to win Arlington Million 2018
Chad Brown celebrated his last Arlington Million victory from afar. This time, he decided to show up, and the timing was ideal.
Brown's horses completed the Grade 1 exacta on Saturday, with Robert Bruce running by late outside of stablemate Almanaar to win -- and earn an expenses-paid spot in the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Turf.
His father by his side, Brown said "it's just a remarkable feeling." He's the first trainer to win the Million in back-to-back years after sending Beach Patrol to a victory in 2017.
"There's so many people who go into making this happen every day," Brown added. "I feel a little guilty that only a few of us can come to Arlington and do this, but it took just an army of people every day to work with these horses."
Robert Bruce, beaten last time in the Grade 1 Manhattan on Belmont Stakes day, didn't have much room to run that day. Under birthday boy Irad Ortiz Jr., he took a wider trip in the lane to strike this time by a half length.
He completed the 10 furlongs in 2:02.29.
"It wasn’t easy for him, but today was a smaller field, a little more speed," Ortiz said. "So thank God I didn’t have any traffic. I put him in the clear on the stretch. On the backside I didn’t want to fight with him, just wanted him to be happy on the backside, so when I turned to the backside and went to the 10-path I didn’t panic.”
Chilean-bred Robert Bruce, a 4-year-old transferred to Brown for his 2018 campaign, lost his first race in eight career starts in the Manhattan. Saturday's Grade 1 win added to four Group 1 scores in his home country for owner Convento Viejo LLC.
Oscar Performance, off as the 9/5 favorite, was forced wide throughout and eventually pulled up. He was loaded in an equine ambulance but did not exhibit signs of lameness, according to an on-site veterinarian.
A post position just inside of Oscar Performance didn't stop Robert Bruce, who rallied off Century Dream's fractions of 23.66, 48.28 and 1:12.96.
Brown said the Sept. 29 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park could be next for Robert Bruce.