Kasaqui the headline horse

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The four Grade 3 stakes on Million Preview Day on Saturday at Arlington were drawn Wednesday, and there are very good horses in at least three of them.

The Arlington Handicap, a prep for the Arlington Million, drew nine entrants, including the 2016 winner, Kasaqui. Kasaqui went on to finish second in the Million last year, and his connections, trainer Ignacio Correas and owner Diane Perkins, have eyed the 2017 Million since Kasaqui began his 7-year-old campaign in February at Tampa Bay Downs.

Kasaqui had little luck in his first three starts this season but won the Grade 2 Wise Dan at Churchill Downs by 2 3/4 lengths last time out, earning a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

The others in the Handicap are Applicator, who is cross-entered in the Stars and Stripes, Cammack, Crewman, Ghost Hunter, Manitoulin, Oak Brook, Sir Dudley Digges, and Taghleeb. Taghleeb, who turns back in distance from the twomile Gold Cup at Belmont, and the improving Manitoulin look like Kasaqui’s principal rivals – if he actually has any Saturday.

Manitoulin is one of two horses who have shipped to Arlington from New York for trainer Jimmy Toner. The other, Time and Motion, is headed for a fascinating matchup with the Correas-trained Dona Bruja in the Modesty Handicap, the local prep for the Beverly D. Time and Motion’s signature win last year at 3 came in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, and she appears to be sitting on her best race of 2017 this weekend.

Dona Bruja, like Kasaqui an Argentine import, looked like a major player in the division when she easily beat the sharp filly Believe in Bertie while making her North American debut June 10 in the Mint Julep Stakes at Churchill. The others in the race are Bonita Cat, Daring Duchess, La Piba, One Liz, Prado’s Sweet Ride, and Stormin Elle, who is crossentered in a Saturday allowance race.

The Pizza Man will make his fifth start in the 1 1/2-mile Stars and Stripes, and despite finishing fourth in the Illinoisbred Black Tie Affair last out, he looks like the strong favorite to beat eight rivals. Florent Geroux, who also rides Time and Motion in the Modesty and Manitoulin in the Handicap, used to be The Pizza Man’s regular rider and has the mount again for the first time in seven starts.

The American Derby, a prep for the Secretariat, lost its likely favorite when Arlington Classic winner Cowboy Culture was recently injured. It also is going head-and-head with the $1.2 million Belmont Derby in the same division and consequently has attracted a modest field of seven 3-year-olds. Sonic Boom or Gorgeous Kitten could be favored in the 1 3/16-mile race.

Saturday’s weather forecast looks ideal for racing, with clear skies and a high of 79 degrees expected.