Speaking of Which Eyeing Arlington 'Cap

Irish bred and owned, trained by a Frenchman and based in New York – few horses fit the global profile of Arlington International Racecourse better than Speaking of Which – and he may just be heading to the Chicagoland oval to display such on Million Preview Day (July 12) in the Grade III $200,000 Arlington Handicap.

Owned by Moyglare Stud Farm and trained by Christophe Clement, Speaking of Which is exiting arguably the best performance of his career – a facile victory in the Grade II Monmouth Stakes at Monmouth Park on June 8 – opening up options for the talented son of Irish champion sprinter Invincible Spirit.

“We are looking at Arlington, New Jersey and Canada next.  We haven’t committed yet and the plans are still up in the air,” said assistant trainer Christophe Lorieul.  “The next race will be very important for him – it will help us decide on the (Grade I) Arlington Million.”  While the Arlington Handicap is at the course and 1¼-miles distance of the Million, the Grade II $200,000 Nijinsky Stakes at Woodbine is at 1 1/8 miles (around one-turn) and the Grade I $500,000 United Nations at Monmouth is at 1 3/8 miles.

“When you look at his pedigree, he has a lot of natural speed being by Invincible Spirit,” Lorieul explained.  “Maybe a mile and an eighth could be his best distance.  Mostly it’s a question of pace as to whether he can stretch from there.”

Since arriving into Clement’s barn from that of Ireland’s Dermot Weld in the fall of 2012, the 5-year-old has done very well, including winning or hitting the board in five graded stakes.  “He’s a little bit of a tricky horse to be around.  The race has to go his own way,” Lorieul said.  “(Winning the Grade III Tropical Turf Handicap) last fall was a very good performance, too.  He can also perform on any kind of ground, but might run a little better with a little footing (cut) in the grass.  But, when he won (the Monmouth Stakes) the other day and it was very firm – I guess that was just the icing on the cake.”