Kitten’s Joy Headlines Million

Kitten’s Joy, the male turf champion of 2004, will be favored to win the Arlington Million today at Arlington Park. The 1 1/4 -mile Million is one of three Grade I races on the card at the suburban Chicago track, along with the $750,000 Beverly D. and the $400,000 Secretariat.

Owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trained by Dale Romans, Kitten’s Joy will be looking for his 10th victory in 12 starts on turf today and will break from the rail in the field of 10. Edgar Prado will ride the 4-year-old El Prado colt, who won the 2004 Secretariat in his only other start over the Arlington turf.

The main upset candidates are Good Reward, Fourty Niners Son, Better Talk Now and Powerscourt, who crossed the wire first in last year’s Million but was disqualified and placed fourth.

Trainer Bobby Frankel will be well represented in the Beverly D., a 1 3/16 -mile turf race, saddling Melhor Ainda, a 3-year-old filly who has won four of five, and Megahertz, who will be making her Arlington debut.

English Channel, who has won five of six, will be the overwhelming favorite in the Secretariat.

Race of the day: Relaxed Gesture, who has been first or second in four starts in this country, is among eight scheduled to run 1 1/2 miles on turf in the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational today at Saratoga. The Sword Dancer is part of an NTRA pick four that also includes the Beverly D. and Arlington Million along with the $200,000 Alfred G. Vandberbilt, a Grade II at six furlongs at Saratoga.

One for the road: Executive Choice has improved since joining the barn of trainer Bruce Levine in New York and can win his second in a row when he takes on seven others in today’s fourth at Saratoga. Mike Luzzi will ride the 4-year-old Birdonthewire gelding in the $47,000 allowance at six furlongs.

Exotically speaking: An NTRA pick four using Botanical and Smokume in the first leg, Wonder Again, Melhor Ainda, Wend and Sundrop in the second leg, Relaxed Gesture and King’s Drama in the third leg and Kitten’s Joy, Fourty Niners Son and Powerscourt in the fourth leg.

Winners (through Thursday): Previous day/meet total: 1/56. Money: Previous day/meet total: $19.20/$330.20. Total money bet: $342.