CHICAGO - The Breeders' Cup is still a few months away but the best horses are beginning to set themselves apart from the pretenders.
One of those traditional "bar raising" events every year is the Arlington Million and the race and it's two Grade 1 undercard races typically attract the best turf horses not only in America but in the world.
Since the Europeans race primarily on grass, they are perceived to have a big advantage when coming to the States but this year, the American turf horses may actually be the best.
The American horses "swept the board" by capturing all three of the major races on Saturday's Million card.
In the Arlington Million, Gio Ponti rattled off his fourth straight win with a 1 1/4-length win over fellow American Just as Well. That win stamped him as one of the the best turf horse in the world. There are still plenty of Europeans who have not made the track to the U.S. but Gio Ponti dispatched three Euros on Saturday.
Stotsfold (3rd), Cima de Triomphe (4th) and Gloria de Campaeo (7th) all had chance to win but were not up to the task.
Does this mean Gio Ponti in unbeatable? Hardly. There are still major races yet to run in Europe and the U.S. but the bay colt has certainly will be the favorite in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
In the other two big races on Saturday at Arlington, the Beverly D. and the Secretariat, the American also came out on top. Dynaforce posted a 1 1/4-length win in the Beverly D. The Europeans ran 2nd (Alnadana), 6th (Denomination), and 7th (Mad About You).
In a stirring stretch duel American Take the Points prevailed over Euro Black Bear Island in the Secretariat.
When the world does converge on Santa Anita in early November for the Breeders' Cup, there is no question that the Europeans will be a major factor. They were last year with the signature win coming in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.
But, early on, Round 1 goes to the U.S.A. Stay tuned. It's going to be fun over the next few weeks.
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Not to take anything away from Gio Ponti's stellar season, but to call Stotsfold or Cima de Triomphe among the very best European horses is quite a stretch. The same is true for the European horses in the Beverly D and Secretariat.
ReplyDeleteBuilding horses like Take The Points or Dynaforce up to be the world's #1 is just setting yourself up for a disappointment. Instead, let's appreciate them for what they actually are: among the Top 3 in their division in North America - and good enough to be worthy of consideration on the International level. No shame in that.