By K. T. Donovan

Despite ominous hints from trainer John Shirreffs throughout the week, the scratch of morning-line favorite After Market from the $1-million Arlington Million Stakes (G1) sent a wave of disappointment through Arlington Park Saturday morning.

Six inches of rain earlier in the week left the turf course so soggy even the connections of European invaders called the groud soft. But the heat, wind, and relentless work of track superintendent Javier Barajas helped steadily dry the course.

After Market’s worst career performance was on a soft turf course at Delaware Park in September 2006 in the Kent Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G3) at Delaware Park. Shirreffs and owner Marty Wygod said they were worried about the condition of the turf course at Arlington leading up to the 1 1/4-mile Arlington Million.

“It’s a big-time concern,” Shirreffs said on Thursday.

Saturday at 10:00 a.m. CDT, Shirreffs walked the course.

“Mr. Wygod recommended that we don’t run on a soft course,” Shirreffs said.

The grass has retained moisture and was rated as yielding to start the day. A warm, dry forecast was expected to help dry the course on Saturday, but several horsemen found it to be “spotty,” with softer places at various points. The concern that a stout horse of After Market’s size could step in such a spot, particularly because he has shown a definite dislike for soft conditions, led to the decision by Wygod.
 
“I’ve been out on the course every day since arriving, and it’s drying out, but it’s not quite fast enough yet,” Shirreffs said. “The horse is doing great. He’s fantastic. Unfortunately, with the weather in Chicago the previous week, it was so rainy that the turf course hasn’t dried out enough yet.”

Barajas also was on the course Saturday morning with his soil compaction tester, and disagreed with the horsemen, stating that the course was consistent from the rail out and all around the track.

“I mowed it three times yesterday to take it from seven inches long to five and a half inches slowly,” Barajas said of the measures he had taken to ensure a safe course. “Right now, I would call it yielding, but I might upgrade it to good by this afternoon.”

K. T. Donovan is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer

The field, in post-position order with (sire), jockey, trainer, and odds:

1. Jambalaya (Langfuhr), Robby Albarado, Catherine Day Phillips, 10-to-1;

2. Sunriver (Saint Ballado), Garrett Gomez, Todd Pletcher, 9-to-2;

3. Doctor Dino (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]), Johnny Murtagh, Richard Gibson, 6-to-1;

4. After Market (Storm Cat), Alex Solis, John Shirreffs, SCRATCHED;

5. The Tin Man (Affirmed), Victor Espinoza, Richard Mandella, 3-to-1;

6. Pressing (Ire) (Soviet Star), David Flores, Michael Jarvis, 20-to-1;

7. Stream Cat (Black Minneloushe), Julien Leparoux, Patrick Biancone, 20-to-1; and

8. Danak (Ire) (Pivotal), Mick Kinane, John Oxx, 5-to-1.