The main story concerning this summer’s Grade I Secretariat
Stakes remains All In Stable’s Willcox Inn, another trained by Mike Stidham,
who would become only the fourth horse in history to sweep Arlington’s
Mid-America Triple with a tally in the Secretariat. Earlier this summer,
Willcox Inn took down the prestigious Arlington Classic May 28 and came back to
score in Arlington’s Grade II American Derby July 9.
Should he win the Secretariat Stakes, Willcox Inn would join
Powhatan’s Tom Rolfe in 1965, Ogden Phipps’ Buckpasser in 1966, and Robert
Schaedle III’s Honor Glide in 1997 as the only horses to sweep the Mid-America
Triple.
Likely among Europeans slated to invade for the Secretariat
are the Irish-bred Ziyarid, owned by His Highness the Aga Khan’s Studs Ltd.,
trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre and winner of France’s Group III Prix Daphnis
at Longchamp July 2, as well as the German-bred Saltas, owned by Gestut
Ittlingen, trained by Peter Schiergen and most recently third in the Group I
German Derby at Hamburg on July 3.
Possible among European invaders for the Secretariat are the
Aidan O’Brien-trained duo of the British-bred Treasure Beach, owned by Derrick
Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor and winner of the Group I Irish
Derby at The Curragh June 26, as well as the Irish-bred Roderic O’Connor, hero
of the Group I Irish Two Thousand Guineas May 21.