Chester House winning the Arlington Million, courtesy of Bill Selwyn

Dateline: 08/19/00

A quality yet compact field of seven older horses met in the $2 million Arlington Million, before a crowd of 26,664 fans in attendance. There was no clear betting choice, with the lukewarm favorite Bienamado going off at 2.90-1. Argentine speedster Asidero set the pace for the first lap of the yielding course, setting splits of 24.20, 47.73, 1:11.85, and the mile in 1:37.30 before dropping out in the stretch. The globetrotting Running Stag stalked him the entire way, staying in second position but tired late and finished 6th.

The 3.30-1 second choice Manndar passed five horses in the stretch, but was mo match for Chester House. The 3.80-1 third choice collared him in mid-stretch and drew off to win by 3 1/4 lengths under Jerry Bailey, running the 1 1/4 mile distance in a respectible 2:01.37. Mula Gula, the longest shot on the board at 25.70-1, swung 6 wide in the stretch and rallied belatedly to get third place.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 2   Chester House      Bailey           9.60    4.40  3.40
 4   Manndar            Nakatani                 4.00  3.00
 7   Mula Gula          Guidry                         4.60

Winning Time:  2:01.37

$2 Exacta 2-4                41.80
$2 Quinella 2-4              18.40
$2 Trifecta 2-4-7           392.60

Entries and background info

The horses break from the gate in the Arlington Million

Asidero all alone on the lead first time by the stands. His jockey Alex Solis said: "He was just a little excited on the front end. The fractions, 24 (and 1) and 47 (and 3) for these kind of horses isn't bad. He handled the turf fine."

Chester House drawing off to win by 3 1/4 lengths.

Chester House coming back after the race. Jerry Bailey said: "I was right where I wanted to be saving ground. The only problem was I knew I was going to be jammed in there, but I felt confident that if I waited long enough it would open up. I never asked him until the hole opened up."

Chester House gets his flowers.

For the Million the winner's circle was set up on the turf course.

Illinois governor George H. Ryan presents the trophy to trainer Bobby Frankel. Frankel said: "We did what we had to do: we won a Group 1 with a superior horse. I haven't even thought about where we'll go next. Jerry (Bailey) just puts the horse into the bridle and they're there."

Chester House in the post parade.

Favorite Bienamado in the post parade. His jockey Kent Desormeaux said: "When I pressured Bienamado, it was like he was saying 'I'm giving you all I've got.' Down the stretch I tried to get him to change his lead. But I was just trying to get him into another gear. He just didn't have any more. I thought today would be the day, but it just didn't happen."

Second place finisher Manndar in the post parade. Trainer Beau Greely said: ""He got beat by a good horse. We didn't have an ideal trip. It was a tough race. They were all bunched up."

Chester House in the paddock.

Photos by Cindy Pierson and Terence Dulay

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