The sun was shining as the day broke on Friday in Chicago. Rain began falling early afternoon and did not stop until nightfall. Intermittent rain continued during the night and the early hours of Saturday. The Met office had forecast that rain would cease by noon and the sun would be out in full measure to make up for lost time. Predicting the weather has become a science.

As I drove to Prospect Heights, a suburb 30 minutes from where I live, to pick up my friend, Bob Brown, a friend, I had to have the air conditioner on in the car. It was not warm any more. Saturday was turning into a hot day. The temperature was climbing into the 80s. The official reading, I found out later, had reached 89 degrees.

Bob and I spend Friday evenings together at Maywood Park, a harness track. Bob is an avid harness racing fan but his love of thoroughbred racing is deep, albeit marginally less. As we stepped out of the car, we could feel the intensity of the sun. We had jackets and ties and formal attire did not make sense but it was Million day at Arlington Park. The event had to be respected and we were mindful of our obligation.

It was a stakes-studded day in America. Arlington Park was hosting three Grade I races. Saratoga in New York had two Grade I races. Del Mar in San Diego, California, was hosting the Grade I Bing Crosby Handicap. The Hambletonian, the richest and the most prestigious trotting race in the world, headlined a 15-race card at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. It was a dizzying pace and we spent part of our time near the paddock and whenever we needed cover from the blazing sun, we took the escalator to the third floor to watch the action from the Meadowlands and Saratoga.

A demanding afternoon, both physically and financially, would be a proper description of the situation we were in and we were equipped. I had brought three large sandwiches from home. Bob and I shared them. It was extremely satisfying and that was the good part. The better part was that we did not have to spend a fortune in Arlington’s Food Court. Food is not overpriced. In Arlington’s Food Court, if you choose to get food, you should live by the maxim, “money is no object.” A glass of Iced Tea is $3.25. At Arlington, you are not paying exorbitant prices for the food but you are paying those ‘out of this world’ prices because you are at the Taj Mahal of racecourses.

Well fancied horses were to the fore as the afternoon advanced. The Secretariat Stakes, a 2000-metre race for sophomores on the grass, was the first Grade I event. Take The Points was the 5-2 favorite. The Even The Score colt, at one time in the front line of Classic candidates, had run disappointingly in the Preakness Stakes and the connections had decided to take their chances in grass races. Hoosier Kingdom set the pace and Black Bear Island, John Murtagh up, lay second. Take The Points raced third. Murtagh struck the front as the trio took the last turn. Kent Desormeaux put Take The Points in top gear and his colt went in chase of the Irish invader. With 200 metres left, after some contact with Take The Points, Black Bear Island held a slender lead. As jockey Murtagh was looking for the winning post to come to his rescue, Desormeaux kept persevering. Take The Points was cutting the margin down and got up in the last stride or two. Driving Snow was a late withdrawal.

Take The Points returned $7.40. The 2000-metre race was run on a ‘good’ course in 2 05.41 seconds. Take The Points took his career earnings to $494,590 Laureate Conductor took third. Reb, in the rear, ran poorly.

Starlight Partners own Take The Points. Mike McCarthy was at Arlington to represent trainer Todd Pletcher. I asked the owner the first question at the post-race press conference. “Kent rode the race as if Black Bear Island was your only danger. These European horses turn into tigers when they come here and you were a tiger tamer. Is that so?”

“Yes, we believed that Black Bear Island was our main worry and it turned out to be. We were confident that our colt would do well on the grass. Kent knew what to do and it paid off.”

Jockey Kent Desormeaux had a ride in the Beverly D, the next race. He was not at the conference. Here’s a quote, “he (Take The Points) has a great stride. He really had a strong stride down the lane. He had a ton of fight at the end. It was a great race.”

John Murtagh commented on Black Bear Island. “He likes to be close to the lead. He raced very well. Everything was fine. He was giving me everything he had. In the last part, he went dead on me.”

The Beverly D was next. The purse was $750,000. The distance was 1900 metres on the turf. Pure Clan, coming off an easy win in Arlington’s Modesty Handicap, was all the rage. Alnadana, the Alain du Royer-dupre-trained filly owned by the Aga Khan, had a large following. Mad About, a Dermot Weld trainee and ridden by John Murtagh, had her share of supporters. Pat Smullen, the 2008 Irish champion jockey and Weld’s retained jockey, did not make the trip and Murtagh was the replacement.

Tizaqueena showed the way. Dynaforce, Kent Desormeaux up, tracked the leader. Alnadana, outrun early, saved ground and was third as the leader came to the far turn. Pure Clan had a lot of ground to make up. Dynaforce forged ahead in the lane and Christophe Soumillon asked Alnadana to go. Dynaforce, a six year-old Dynaformer mare, ran on resolutely to beat back Alnadana’s bid to win by a length and a quarter. The time was 1 58.29 seconds. Pure Clan, late on the scene, salvaged third.

Dynaforce was third in the Modesty Handicap and was well beaten that day and, as a consequence, was a generous 15-2. In 2008, Dynaforce won the Grade I Flower Bowl in New York and the Beverly D was her second win at the highest level. The Beverly D purse boosted Dynaforce’s career earnings to 1,080,772.

Trainer Bill Mott and Kent Desormeaux did not attend the press conference. Dr John A Chandler, owner of Dynaforce, took the questions. “Not only did you turn the tables on Pure Clan, your mare raised her game a level or two. Did you do anything different in terms of training or equipment?”

Not really. She had been training well. Kent had her placed well. Getting first run was the main thing.”

Jockey Desormeaux made a statement. “The pace was easy to the half. Then I let her stretch out in an attempt to take the foreign (referring to the European horses) turn of foot away from them down the lane. That’s the way to beat the Europeans.”

Trainer Bill Mott expressed satisfaction. “She came ready to run. It is her third race from the lay off cycle and everything worked out for her.”

Recapturetheglory was a scratch in the Million. Two American horses had won the first two Grade I contests. Now, it was time to reaffirm the belief in the home team. Fans refused to look beyond Gio Ponti in the big race. Winner of his last three races, all Group I events, Gio Ponti was the 3-2 favorite.

Presious Passion went into a long lead as is his wont. The yielding ground was his undoing and his lead was being whittled down at the halfway point. Gio Ponti was fifth and sixth and jockey Ramon Dominguez took the favorite out of the pocket as the field took the turn for the run to the box. A moment or two later, Gio Ponti had taken the lead. The other fancied runners were not able to mount serious challenges. As jockey Domingues kept Gio Ponti to his task, Just As Well, a longshot, came on to take the runner-up berth. Stotsfold, Adam Kirby up, took the third spot.

Gio Ponti returned $5.00. The winning margin was a length and a quarter. The 2000-metre Arlington Million was run in 2 04.19. Gio Ponri’s first Grade I win this year came in the Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita. The next two came in the Manhattan and the Man O’War at Belmont Park. The Million was the last link in the four-race sequence. Gio Ponti now has nine wins from 14 starts. His earnings stand at $2,133,800.Gio Ponti is a son of Tale of the Cat.

Presious Passion, once headed, stopped. Cima de Triomphe, not in contention at any point, was forced wide in the final turn and ran on to no avail. Einstein showed little enthusiasm. Glorea de Campeao raced prominently and beat a hasty retreat in the final 400 metres.

I asked Shane T A Ryan, Gio Ponti’s owner, this question. “Gio Ponti thrives on racing. It is now four Group I races in a row. Do you have a record in mind? Are you thinking of Roger Federer’s Grand Slam number? Will you give thought to crossing the Atlantic and taking on the best Europe has to offer in the Arc at Paris in October?”

Mr Ryan, who donated five percent of his winner’s purse ($29,400) to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund, answered. “Yes, that would be a thrill. This win in the Million opens many doors. There are other big races around the world late in the year. Every race is on the table.”

Christophe Clement, trainer of Gio Ponti, mentioned the remarkable progress his trainee has made as a four year-old. “He keeps maturing. There are many good races to consider for him but let’s enjoy today’s win.”

Jockey Dominguez had a mount in the race following the Million. Here is the gist of what he said. “Gio Ponti is a great horse. I was concerned with the turf after the rain. He stumbled at the start but right away, he came back and was on the bridle. He is a pleasure to ride.”

Bob and I had a chance to chat with Christophe Lemaire. The ever polite Lemaire is a class act. “The three of us, Soumillon, Dominic Boeuf and I came in the same plane. Arlington made arrangements to pick us up. We are going back later today. I am riding at Deauville on Sunday. I will see you at the Arc.”

I caught up with Luca Cumani. Trainer Cumani has an infectious smile. I asked him about Cima de Triomphe and Seta, a freshman filly and a smashing winner in her debut at Newmarket recently. “I am hopeful about Cima de Triomphe. I hope things work out. Seta, yes, she is special. I was impressed the day I saw her.”

My wife and I flew to Seattle early Sunday morning. I was checking in at an automated machine when my wife drew my attention to a not so tall man looking like a jockey. It was Laffitt Pincay, Jr. I said hello and shook hands. St Louis was our stop and then on to Seattle. We were waiting at the gate and who shows up? Laffitt Pincay, Jr. I struck up a conversation. He talked about his wins in the Triple Crown races, his two Million victories and his riding experiences abroad. Pincay is articulate, attentive and courteous to the extreme. “I had another, may be 10 years, but that accident stopped me cold.”

Laffitt Pincay, Jr suffered a career-ending neck injury at Santa Anita in March, 2003. The neck was broken in three places. Jockey Tony Farina’s mount clipped the heels of Pincay’s horse. Pincay, 56, retired. He had 9,531 wins at that point. He has now been overtaken by Russell Baze and Jorge Ricardo.

In my next report, I will write about the Shergar Cup and other stakes action around the world at week’s end.