Cape Blanco tackles America: Part Two

Four excellent Grade 1 races are set for Saturday afternoon, with the Arlington Million taking centre stage.
AP O'Brien sends Cape Blanco raiding across the Atlantic for a second time this season, but the four-year-old has company this time in the guise of Epsom Derby runner-up Treasure Beach. Cape Blanco tackles the Million, while Treasure Beach features in the Secretariat Stakes at the same track.

Arlington Park (Arlington Heights, Il) (Good)
3.52CT (9.52BST) $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (Grade 1) 10f, 3-year-olds (10 runners)
Willcox Inn (Michael Stidham/R Albarado) 5/1 or Banned (Thomas F Proctor/GK Gomez) 9/2
Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach is the 6/4 favourite and takes a drop back in trip from a mile and a half. I'm going to oppose the 3-year-old, however, with American Derby winner Willcox Inn. Virginia Derby runner-up Banned is another to consider.

4.33 (10.33) $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes (Grade 1) 9f110yrds, 3-year-old+ fillies & mares (11 runners)
Dubawi Heights (Simon Callaghan/J Rosario) 12/1ew or River Jetez (MF De Kock/Christophe Soumillon) 4/1fav
Former British runner Dubawi Heights has made a seamless transition to American racing with three victories this year, including the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park. Globetrotting 8-year-old South African River Jetez sets a good standard following her runs in the UAE, Britain and the Far East.

5.15 (11.15) $1,000,000 Arlington Million (Grade 1) 10f, 3-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Cape Blanco (AP O'Brien/Jamie Spencer) 2/1fav or Rahystrada (Byron G Hughes/Sheldon Russell) 14/1ew
Cape Blanco's American debut couldn't have gone any better in the Man O'War Stakes at Belmont Park in June and the four-year-old looks primed to make it a second victory of the season this side of the Atlantic. Rahystrada won the Colonial Turf Cup at Colonial Downs and looks an interesting each-way price. Also, a note for British female jockey Hayley Turner who rides second favourite Wigmore Hall for Michael Bell.

Saratoga (Saratoga Springs, NY) (Good)
5.50ET (10.50BST) $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (Grade 1) 12f, 3-year-olds+ (8 runners)
Drosselmeyer (William Mott/Jose Lezcano) 8/1ew or Boisterous (Claude R McGaughey III/JR Velazquez) 4/1
Last year's Belmont Stakes winner has had a tough time so far this year, but I'll take a chance that he retains some of the ability that saw him take the showcase race. Boisterous ran well behind Cape Blanco in the Man O'War Stakes and makes the step up in trip.