Sam-Son Farm’s reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Up With the Birds arrived safely on Friday morning after a somewhat eventful trip from his home base at Woodbine. The Malcolm Pierce-trained son of Stormy Atlantic was held up at the border for four hours, but is no worse for the wear.
Who listened to @HRRN today? Am I crazy…? #Million32
RT @AdolphsonRacing: UP WITH THE BIRDS at @ArlingtonRacing
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— MollyJoRosen (@MollyJoRosen) August 15, 2014
“Everything is well,” Pierce reported. “He arrived in good order. They were held up at the border for a couple extra hours, but he handled it just fine. It’s an unfortunate thing, but sometimes that’s what happens when you cross the border. The main thing is that he’s here now and has 36 hours to rest before the race.”
Up With the Birds enters a highly contentious renewal of the Grade I Arlington Million as an outsider, despite his many accomplishments and solid recent form. Last out, in the Grade II Nijinsky Stakes over 1 1/8 miles at Woodbine, he manhandled a solid field to close his final eighth in less than 12 seconds. On Saturday, he starts from post five under regular jockey Eurico Da Silva with a tepid morning line of 6-1.
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