Horse Racing Nation: Million Preview Day at Arlington Park in Photos

On Saturday, Arlington Park hosted Million Preview Day and as usual the horses were the stars of the show. But this year their brilliance was nearly eclipsed by that of jockey Florent Geroux, who won three of the four stakes races of the day. 

The aptly-named Million Preview Day showcases four Grade III turf races: the Arlington Handicap, the Stars and Stripes Stakes, the American Derby, and the Modesty Handicap, which is a prep race for next month's Grade I Beverly D. Stakes on Arlington Million day.

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Wise Dan, Groupie Doll and Heavy Rains: Photos from Shadwell "Turf Mile" Day at Keeneland

On Saturday, heavy rains moved into Keeneland as lady luck left and two of the heavy favorites of the day fell. But despite the rain and losses, I had a wonderful time; if anything, the rains allowed me to take some interesting photos.

Above and below: the first heavy rainfall of the day approaches under the guise of fog.

Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select (Gr. III) - This beautiful War Front colt ran 7th

Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select (Gr. III) - Havelock wins.

Thoroughbred Club of America (Gr. II) - Champion sprinter Groupie Doll touches her nose to her handler.

(Above and below four) Thoroughbred Club of America (Gr. II) - Groupie Doll clearly knew what cameras meant; she kept pausing to pose, as some of the good ones are wont to do.

(Above and below) Thoroughbred Club of America (Gr. II) - Gypsy Robin

Thoroughbred Club of America (Gr. II) -Tanglewood Tale and her handler...with their tongues out!

(Above and below) Thoroughbred Club of America (Gr. II) - Judy the Beauty is a favorite of my husband's.

Thoroughbred Club of America (Gr. II) - Groupie Doll, Rajiv Maragh up

Dark skies threatened as the Thoroughbred Club of America field headed to the post. Judy the Beauty was the winner, with Gypsy Robin 2nd and Groupie Doll a rare 3rd. The first favorite of the day had fallen.

First Lady Stakes (Gr. I) - Hungry Island

First Lady Stakes (Gr. I) -Winding Way, a full sister to Kauai Katie

First Lady Stakes (Gr. I) - A personal favorite, Daisy Devine

First Lady Stakes (Gr. I) - Say (IRE), a daughter of super-sire Galileo,  poses regally while being saddled

First Lady Stakes (Gr. I) - The dark skies finally opened up and the second heavy rain of the day fell. Better Lucky and her handler hurry for cover.

First Lady Stakes (Gr. I) - The field leaves the paddock for the post

(Above and below two) First Lady Stakes (Gr. I) - Despite her name, Dayatthespa was reluctant to leave the shelter of the saddling stall to join the field.

First Lady Stakes (Gr. I) - The rain was so heavy that I could barely see the start of the race.

First Lady Stakes (Gr. I) - Better Lucky wins, with Dayatthespa a close 2nd and Daisy Devine 3rd

Dixiana Breeder's Futurity (Gr. II) - We Miss Artie splashes home in front over the supposedly weather-proof polytrack. It had been announced that the Shadwell Turf Mile was off the turf and would instead be run over the polytrack.

Shadwell (Gr. I) - Local (Illinois) favorite, Hogy

Shadwell (Gr. I) - Handsome Mike

Shadwell (Gr. I) - Silver Max

Shadwell (Gr. I) - Wise Dan's jockey, John Valezquez, approaches

Shadwell (Gr. I) - Turallure is as handsome as ever in the rain.

(Above and below) Shadwell (Gr. I) - The eyes of Wise Dan's trainer rarely left his champion horse.

Shadwell (Gr. I) - Silver Max, Robby Albarado up

Shadwell (Gr. I) - Wise Dan, John Valezquez up

Shadwell (Gr. I) - Start

Shadwell (Gr. I) -Wise Dan attempts to claim a good position in the race. He ended up being bumped and going wide around both turns.

Shadwell (Gr. I) - Wise Dan dug in deep with a powerful stretch drive but was unable to catch the front-running Silver Max

Shadwell (Gr. I) - The horses return

Shadwell (Gr. I) - Wise Dan is walked back to his barn, disappointment evident on the faces of his handlers.

(Above and below) I'm Already Sexy, winner of the Pucker Up Stakes (Gr. III) at Arlington Park. She is entered in the upcoming Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (Gr. I) at Keeneland

Arlington Park favorite, Hogy

Gulch at Old Friends

Ogygian approaches at Old Friends. The 30-year-old stallion (and my personal favorite at OF) enjoyed a neck scratch before it began to pour buckets--again.

The still-spry old stallion whirled like a cutting horse and ran for the cover of a nearby tree.

India, a tail female descendant of Golden Trail.

(Above and below three) Princess Arabella politely enjoys a carrot