The Arlington Million (G1), racing's first million-dollar event, celebrated its 25th renewal this year. A field of seven older horses contested the 1 1/4-mile trip over the turf at Arlington Park in Chicago for a guaranteed purse of $1 million. Defending champ The Tin Man was the 2-1 choice over 5-2 second choice and Bowling Green winner Sunriver. Irish shipper Danak was the 4-1 third choice on the board off a 4th place finish in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Sunriver set very slow fractions of 26.34, 50.88, and 1:16.15 while being stalked by The Tin Man and 8-1 Jambalaya. Sunriver held the lead into the stretch, at which time jockey Victor Espinoza angled The Tin Man wide for his late run. The Tin Man gained the lead with 3/16 to go and looked like he had the race won, but Robby Albarado aboard Jambalaya, who had been boxed in early in the stretch, found an opening at the 1/8 pole, came through, and wore down The Tin Man late to prevail by 3/4 length in a time of 2:04.76 over the course rated "good". It was just a nose back to late running 5-1 Doctor Dino in third, while Sunriver and 15-1 late closing Stream Cat dead-heated for the fourth spot.
