Robert Bruce Tops MASSIVE Million Day! - Super Screener
Super Screener

Robert Bruce Tops MASSIVE Million Day!

Photo by Jessica Morgan/Eclipse Sportswire

G1 Secretariat

The Arlington Million undercard graded stakes races began with the G1 Secretariat and we got off to a bang of a start. The Super Screener Top Long Shot pick for the race (and ranked 4th overall) — Carrick — got past the determined odds-on favorite, Analyze It, to snare an impressive win at unbelievable odds of 38-1!  Here’s what the Super Screener said about the long shot winner prior to the race:

 

“Watch out for #4 Carrick, the Super Screener Top Long Shot pick who encountered all kinds of trouble along the rail throughout the first half of this race.  Once settled he found his stride and come on with decent energy. It was the race prior, however, that impressed even more. He ran close to blazing fractions in that but yet drew smartly away for an easy win against a solid bunch as the 2nd and 3rd place horses each won their next race.  He’ll sit the perfect ground-saving trip here just a few lengths off the modest pace and will have plenty of energy left in reserve for that final furlong.”

 

The Super Screener suggested $1 Trifecta fired for a whopping pay out of $2,089 thanks to the other high ranked Super Sceener Pick of Bandua completing the Trifecta at odds of nearly 40-1.

 

The overwhelming favorite, Analyze It, out of the Chad Brown barn, once again appeared to have the race won but waited on Carrick just as he did in his prior two races against Catholic Boy. I am sure connections will now take him back to shorter route distances. After the race, jockey Jose Ortiz indicated that less ground might get him back to his winning ways. These longer distances seem to take some of that late kick away from him.  

 

Once again, Untamed Domain failed to impact as the Super Screener Vulnerable Favorite selection though he did end up going off at odds of 11-1.  Barn is regrouping once again.

 

G1 Beverly D

No surprise here as the Super Screener Top Win and Board Hitter pick, Sistercharlie, overcame the dreadfully slow pace to blow by the front running rivals and then smartly held off stablemate, Fourstar Crook who has now chalked up his 10 straight Exacta finish…the model of consistency.  

 

“Trainer Chad Brown, winner of the last three editions of this race has this year’s renewal of the G1 Beverly D surrounded with no less than 4 starters including the Super Screener Top Board Hitter and Top Win pick, #3 Sistercharlie.  She has been pointed to this race and is coming into it in top condition with the Super Screener projecting a new lifetime top third off the layoff.  This closer wields a strong late turn of foot and while she prefers a lot of speed at the front she can overcome softer pace set ups as she did in those victories in France. She has yet to miss the Superfecta in 9 starts and is 8 for 9 in the Exacta.  Can’t see a finish out of the Trifecta here and she is a very reliable and contentious win contender. Only thing that stops her from a photo in the Winner’s Circle is an extremely slow pace but she has a stablemate in #5 Thais who is here to ensure an honest pace.”

 

The Super Screener faded both Daddy’s Lil Darling and the second choice on the board, Athena as vulnerable choices and they both were out of the Trifecta. Daddys Lil Darling needed more pace and Athena got the perfect trip in her prior race closing into a fast pace in a race restricted to 3 year olds…she was thwarted by the dawdling pace and facing far superior older fillies and mares in the Beverly D.

 

Something went afoul with Dona Bruja as she was troubled from the start and the jockey never asked her thereafter.  

 

Chad Brown swept the Trifecta and he will continue to dominate the Filly and Mare Turf division and holds a very strong hand coming into the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf race.

 

G1 Arlington Million

While the G1 Arlington Million may have lost some of it’s luster over the years it still attracts some of the best from around the US with the Chad Brown barn being no exception.  The Super Screener Top Win and Top Value pick, Century Dream unexpectedly shot to the lead and carved out par-like fractions and held on with determination but could not hold off Brown’s pair of Robert Bruce and Almanaar.  In addition, he was disqualified from 3rd and placed 4th for interfering with 4th place finisher Catcho En Die.  That change was a welcomed one because if Century Dream couldn’t win the race then a 4th place finish was ideal, as it triggered a payoff of over $730 from the suggested $.40 Superfecta wager.  


The Super Screener’s top domestic pick and the best of the Chad Brown trio, according to the Super Screener, Robert Bruce, looked super in closing with superior energy to get past Century Dream and hold off his game stablemate, Almanaar to take down this year’s edition of the

Arlington Million.  

 

“It’s always tough to isolate the “best” horse from multiple Chad Brown entries as even the trainer is often surprised by the results. The Super Screener has identified #10 Robert Bruce as the best US-based upsetter in the field.  His last effort in the G1 Manhattan was muted by a tough trip down the stretch in which he lost momentum.  He regained that momentum but it was too late as he continued on with an excellent gallop out. He’s is quite tactical so he’ll be a little closer to the pace than he normally is just like in the G3 Fort Marcy.  He possesses a very strong turn of foot which adds to his list of advantages. He too is making just his 3rd start of 2018 so look for a break out race here at a distance that he prefers. Odds of anything close to 9-2 or higher represent fair value.”


The Super Screener once again tabbed Deauville as vulnerable even though he finished 3rd in this race in the prior two runnings. This year he submitted a dull 6th place finish so I think we have seen the best of Deauville…a horse the Super Screener never took much stock in.

 

The Super Screener faded the odds-on favorite, Oscar Performance, some and he definitely didn’t show up on this day. As he was clearly beginning to fade, the jockey pulled him up citing that he may have taken a few bad steps.  However, he checked out just fine after the race and the next morning. He’ll get a thorough check up tomorrow morning. At this point we continue to contend that he just wasn’t good enough against this field until we learn otherwise.

 

G3 Pucker Up

Last but not least we were treated to a full field of 12 in the G3 Pucker Up Stakes to close out the Arlington Million Day card.  The Super Screener’s Top 2 Win picks finished 2nd and 4th respectively.  The Top Long Shot pick, Princess Warrior closed for a game third at odds of 11-1.  We faded Cosmic Burst as vulnerable and she backed up in the field to finish a distant 7th.

 

The Super Screener suggested Superfecta wagering strategy paid off handsomely returning $3,900 for a $1 ticket.

 

The spotlight now shifts back to the West Coast as Del Mar features their biggest day of their summer and fall meets anchored by the G1 Pacific Classic with Accelerate out of the John Sadler barn your early favorite.  That race will be supported by the Del Mar Handicap and Del Mar Oaks. Not to be outdone, Saratoga has a big race of their own in the G1 Alabama headlined by Midnight Bisou. Don’t miss a minute of this Saturday’s Graded Stakes action.

 

Until this weekend, Go Fast and Win!

 

Mike

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