• Little Mike steals to victory in Arlington Million
Hayley Turner's international reputation took a leap forward in Chicago on Saturday as Britain's leading female jockey took the prestigious Beverly D Stakes aboard the David Simcock-trained I'm A Dreamer.
Turner, who came in for the ride only as a late substitute when Ryan Moore opted to remain to ride in Britain, was enjoying her third Group One success but the victory represented a breakthrough at the highest level in the US.
Having struck the front with a furlong to run, I'm A Dreamer had to dig deep to hold the late rally of Marketing Mix.
Turner had a tough north American debut when meeting trouble in running aboard Wigmore Hall at the same meeting 12 months ago, but she enjoyed a far smoother trip on this occasion and had her mount perfectly placed to challenge coming off the home turn.
"She quickened up very well. The closer was getting there, but we just held on," said Simcock.
With French raider Bayrir taking the Secretariat Stakes under Christophe Lemaire, and the Marco Botti-trained Jakkalberry successful in the inaugural running of the American St Leger, it looked as if a clean sweep of the feature contests on the Arlington card might be on the cards.
But a fine frontrunning ride from Ramon Dominguez allowed the home team to keep the Arlington Million as Little Mike stole enough of an advantage off the final turn to keep Afsare and Kieren Fallon at bay.
Having played up in the starting stalls, Afsare was probably a little further from the pace than Fallon might have preferred in the early stages. But there could be no faulting the tactics of Dominguez, who was able to set easy fractions on suspect stayer Little Mike with none of his rivals seemingly interested in contesting the lead.
Meanwhile, at Saratoga, Point of Entry showed that the Europeans might not have it all their own way in the Breeders' Cup Turf with a stylish win in the Sword Dancer Invitational.
The Breeders' Cup meeting will also be the plan for the former John Gosden-trained Questing, now under the ownership of Godolphin and in the care of Kiaran McLaughlin, who destroyed her rivals with a dominant display of frontrunning in the Alabama Stakes on the same card.
