Little Mike delivers big with Arlington victory

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — Little Mike led from start to finish to win the 30th running of the Arlington Million on Saturday.

Britain’s Afsare closed fast, but finished 1 1/2 lengths back in second. Rahystrada and Colombian tied for third.

Ramon Dominguez steered Little Mike right to the lead from the No. 4 post position in the 11-horse race at Arlington Park.

Little Mike is owned by Priscilla Vaccarezza and trained by Dale L. Romans. He ran 1 1/4 miles on turf in 2:02.44 and paid $9.80, $5.60 and $4.40. The gelding has now won six of his nine starts since joining Romans’ barn.

Afsare, ridden by Kieren Fallon, was antsy just before post position time, rearing up at one point and knocking over a side rail near the gate. Afsare eventually settled down and showed his speed while returning $6.60 and $4.80.

Rahystrada, with Julien Leparoux on board, paid $4.40, and Colombian, with William T. Buick in the saddle, paid $3.80.

Irish-bred favorite Crackerjack King was near the front at the head of the stretch but settled for fifth. The race featured five European-bred horses.

Two other Grade I races were contested on the turf at Arlington Park on Saturday.

I’m A Dreamer held off late-charging MarketingMix to win by a head in the $750,000 Beverly D. Britain’s Joviality was third in the 1 3/16-mile race.

I’m A Dreamer was fifth approaching the stretch while Marketing Mix was sixth, but both horses charged to the front, with I’m a Dreamer hanging on for the victory.

Favorite Aruna was last in the 10-horse field.

I’m A Dreamer paid $14.60, $7.40, $4.40. Marketing Mix returned $4.60 and $3.40, while Joviality paid $5.

French-bred Bayrir won the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths over Finnegans Wake. Summer Front was in front at the head of the stretch, but finished third.

Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, Bayrir paid $8.40, $4.80, $3.60. Finnegans Wake paid $6.40, $3.60 and Summer Front returned $3.40 to show. The favorite, Silver Max, finished fifth.

SARATOGA Questing rolls in Alabama

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Questing posted a 9-length victory in the 132nd running of the $600,000 Alabama Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

Irad Ortiz Jr. rode the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained filly, who went to the lead at the break and was never challenged while running 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.2. She earned $360,000 in her third consecutive win for GodolphinStable and second at Saratoga, where she won the Coaching Club American Oaks in July.

Questing paid $6.40, $4.40 and $3.50. In Lingerie returned $5.60 and $4. Via Villaggio, third of seven, paid $5.70 to show.

Also Saturday, Point of Entry, ridden by John Velazquez, pulled away for a 4-length victory in the $600,000 Sword Dancer Invitational.

Point of Entry earned $360,000 for the Phipps Stable and paid $4.80, $2.90 and $2.30. Al Khali paid 5.70 and $3.90. Brilliant Speed, third of nine, returned $3.70 to show.

MONMOUTH PARK

San Pablo wins Iselin

OCEANPORT, N.J. - San Pablo powered past Small Town Talk and Toby’s Corner in midstretch and drew off to a 3 1/2-length victory in the $150,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, San Pablo ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.59 and paid $3.80, $2.40 and $2.10. It was his first graded win and the seventh in 12 career starts.

Toby’s Corner finished second and returned $2.80 and $2.40. Pacesetter Small Town Talk paid $3.60 to show.

“The plan was to just get him comfortable early and into a nice rhythm,” jockey Chris DeCarlo said. “I just sat and waited with him until it was time to go.”