It didn’t faze The Pizza Man’s owner-breeder, Rich Papiese, to see his defending champion projected as a 10-1 outsider when the morning line came out Wednesday for Saturday’s 34th running of the Arlington Million.
“We were 10-1 on the morning line last year,” Papiese said. “He doesn’t know if he’s 10-1 or 1,000-1. No pressure. We’ve been there; we’ve done this; we’ll just go out and try to do it again.”
The Pizza Man’s post-time odds dropped to 5-1 when he left the starting gate on his way to becoming the first Illinois-bred winner in Million history. If he goes back to the winner’s circle he will join the great John Henry as the only two-time winner.
Tryster of England is pegged as the 7-2 favorite in the 13-horse field, followed by Wake Forest of the U.S. (5-1), World Approval of the U.S. (9-2), Deauville of Ireland (6-1) and Mondialiste of England (8-1). Then come The Pizza Man and Decorated Knight of England, both at 10-1.
Florent Geroux, who rode The Pizza Man last year, will ride Wake Forest on Saturday, while the defending champ will have Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith in the saddle. Smith’s only ride on The Pizza Man came when they won Del Mar’s Grade II Hollywood Turf Cup in November.
Three other international races will be run Saturday at Arlington. The morning line favorites are: European import Sea Calisi (7-5) in the $700,000 Beverly D. for fillies and mares; Beach Patrol (2-1) of the U.S. in the $400,000 Secretariat for 3-year-olds; and Da Big Horse at 9-5 in the $300,000 American St. Leger, the Chicago circuit’s longest race at a distance of 1 11/16 miles.
Neil Milbert is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
Million starting lineup
Post-position order:
1. Danish Dynaformer (Canada), 30-1: Canadian-bred is coming off a Grade III victory at Woodbine. Last year he was a 7 3/4-length winner in the 1 1/2-mile third leg of the Canada’s Triple Crown.
2. Dubai Sky (U.S.), 30-1: Well-bred 4-year-old has a splendid record but has run in only one graded stakes race. Trainer Bill Mott won the 1994 Million with Paradise Creek.
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3. Greengrassofyoming (U.S.). 30-1: Forced The Pizza Man to settle for fourth last time out when he won Arlington’s Grade III Stars and Stripes by a nose July 9. Has competed in 36 races but only six stakes.
4. Pumpkin Rumble (U.S.), 30-1: A threatening third in the Stars and Stripes. Lone stakes triumph in his 20-race career was in an ungraded race at Canterbury.
5. The Pizza Man (U.S.), 10-1: Loves Arlington’s grass course as evidenced by a 14-race resume consisting of 10 victories, 1 place and 1 show. But he has been out of money in his last three races.
6. Kasaqui (U.S.), 20-1: Import from Argentina was an impressive winner of the Million prep, the Grade III Arlington Handicap, but that’s the lone stakes victory of his 19-race career.
7. Take the Stand (U.S.), 15-1: Mott trains the Argentine import who came to the U.S. last summer. Took a Grade II at Fair Grounds on March 26 but hasn’t raced since then.
8. Decorated Knight (Britain), 10-1: Son of the superstar sire Galileo carried 136 pounds when he won his last start, a Group II race in Ireland over a 1 1/8-mile course.
9. Mondialiste (Britain), 8-1: Well-traveled son of Galileo last year won the Grade I Woodbine Mile and was second in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Mile in the only two North American appearances of his career.
10. Wake Forest (U.S.), 4-1: German-bred winner of the Grade I Man O’ War at Belmont in May was sixth in his U.S. debut in last year’s Million. Has a solid resume, both in the U.S. and his homeland.
11. World Approval (U.S.), 9-2: Captured Monmouth’s Grade I United Nations in his last start. His only Arlington appearance came last summer when he won the Grade III American Derby.
12. Tryster (Britain), 7-2: Won two of three starts in Dubai during the winter, including a 11/4-mile Group I. Jockey William Buick won 2010 Million on Debussy.
13. Deauville (Ireland), 6-1: Son of Galileo trying to become the second 3-year-old winner in Million history. World renowned trainer Aidan O’Brien had the Million winners in 2005 and 2011.