Horse Racing

6. Daddy Long Legs . . . Colm O'Donoghue. . . 6-1

7. Bayrir . . . Christophe Lemaire. . . 6-1

8. Silver Max . . . Robby Albarado. . . 9-5

Silver Max has been close to unbeatable on grass, with seven wins and three seconds in 10 tries. The colt has won six straight over six different courses. This will be his second trip to the Chicago suburbs during the streak. Bayrir has won three of his four career races, all since May and all in France. It is not easy to tell from his form exactly where he fits in this spot, but trainer and rider are among the best in France. Finnegans Wake was third to his stablemate Silver Max in the Virginia Derby and should rally strongly in the stretch.

* D.J.'s picks

1. Silver Max 2. Bayrir 3. Finnegans Wake

The Alabama

Saratoga, Race 10 - Post 5:46

$600,000 (Grade I), 3 y.o. fil, 1 1/4 miles

1. Sea Island . . . Joel Rosario. . . 12-1

2. Zo Impressive . . . Rajiv Maragh. . . 5-1

3. Grace Hall . . . Javier Castellano. . . 7-5

4. Uptown Bertie . . . Corey Lanerie. . . 20-1

5. Via Villagio . . . Corey Nakatani. . . 3-1

6. Questing . . . Irad Ortiz Jr.. . . 5-2

7. In Lingerie . . . John Velazquez. . . 6-1

The 3-year-old filly championship may be on the line here. If it is not decided in this race, it may be in the Grade I Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 22. Questing has absolutely blown up in her last two starts, winning each with total ease. The only thing that changed is that she got to run on dirt instead of grass, so that has to be the reason for the improvement. She appears to have a huge tactical advantage here as she looks like lone speed and may be able to control the race from the top. Grace Hall has never run a poor race in eight tries, and she won't run a poor one here. She won a Grade I at Saratoga last year and has won two Grade II stakes this year. Her win in the Delaware Oaks was the most impressive of her career. Win or lose, she is almost certainly coming to the Cotillion, not far from trainer Tony Dutrow's Bucks County home. Via Villaggio was a distant second to Grace Hall in the DelOaks.

* D.J.'s picks

1. Questing 2. Grace Hall 3. Via Villagio

The Arlington Million

Arlington Park, Race 11 - Post 6:44

$1 million (Grade I), 3 y.o. & up, 1 1/4 miles (turf)

1. Rahystrada . . . Julien Leparoux. . . 8-1

2. Boisterous . . . Jose Lezcano. . . 4-1

3. Afsare . . . Kieren Fallon. . . 6-1

4. Little Mike . . . Ramon Dominguez. . . 6-1

5. Colombian . . . William Buick. . . 8-1

6. Treasure Beach . . . Jamie Spencer. . . 6-1

7. Willcox Inn . . . James Graham. . . 12-1

8. Wigmore Hall . . . Hayley Turner. . . 12-1

9. Crackerjack King . . . Colm O'Donoghue. . . 5-1

10. Cherokee Lord . . . Francisco Torres. . . 30-1

11. Vertiformer . . . Jeffrey Sanchez. . . 20-1

America's first $1 million race celebrates its 30th birthday. Its first running (John Henry catching The Bart at the wire) was its most memorable. Great horses have won the race through the years. Alas, it is not quite the race it used to be and does not have the same international appeal. Still, it is a late August staple in the Midwest. English trainer John Gosden, American educated at the University of Charlie Whittingham, is having one of his greatest seasons. On paper, Colombian looks undistinguished. But if Gosden thought enough to bring him from England, I am on board. Little Mike is impossible not to like. He goes right to the front and tries to run the field off its feet. It has worked well enough to get him 10 wins in 14 grass races. This, however, is his toughest test at a distance he has not tried. May just start running and never slow down. Rahystrada keeps trying the Million. The 8-year-old has won 13 grass races and more than a $1 million. But he has never shown to be quite good enough to win a race such as this.

* D.J.'s picks

1. Colombian 2. Little Mike 3. Rahystrada

- Dick Jerardi