Is There a Silver Lining for Tin Man in Arlington Million?

The Tin Man is primed to defend his Arlington Million title and become the only horse to record back-to-back victories in its 25-year history. The 9-year-old gelding, who gets better with age, is one of the last siblings of '78 Triple Crown champ Affirmed, who passed away in '01. Even the great John Henry, enjoying retirement at 32, didn't accomplish that feat. But he also got better as he got older, winning the first of two Arlington Millions at 6. His nose victory over The Bart in '81 is immortalized in bronze -- both horses lifelike battling to the wire -- at the top of the Illinois track's paddock. In '83, John Henry thought he won despite coming up a neck short of Tolomeo. "He promptly took himself into the winner's circle," according to eyewitnesses. "It took quite a few people to drag him out, biting and kicking." A year later, John Henry made amends at 9, winning five graded stakes at five different race tracks. He made his last horse race a winning one, the Ballantine Scotch Classic at the Meadowlands. It was No. 39. When John Henry retired, he was the highest money-winning thoroughbred with earnings of $6.5 million. Nowadays, when horses seldom race beyond 4, the Tin Man is an exception like John Henry and Seabiscuit. John Henry, named after the American folk hero, was sold as a yearling for $1,100. As a youngster, he had the habit of tearing steel water and feed buckets off stall walls and stomping them flat. He was gelded both for his bad temper and lack of breeding. His sire, Ole Bob Bowers, once was sold for only $900. His dam, Once Double, was an undistinguished runner and producer. The Tin Man, first and second in two '07 outings at Hollywood Park, will face a very competitive field on Saturday. The likely favorite will be 4-year-old After Market, winner of back-to-back Grade 1 grass stakes in California: the Eddie Read at Del Mar and the Charlie Whittingham Memorial at Hollywood Park. The son of Storm Cat goes for his fourth straight victory and his eighth in a dozen outings. He has captured four stakes this year on synthetic surfaces at three different California tracks, but never raced at Arlington. Another topnotch foe, Cosmonaut, won for the second consecutive time the '07 Arlington Handicap, local prep for the track's showcase race. Last year, he finished fifth in the Million. Sunriver, who didn't have much luck on the dirt since winning last year's Peter Pan, captured two straight turf stakes at Belmont this year. Up to four foreign invaders may run. They include a French horse and three Irish breds, including Stage Gift, who scored in his last two stakes -- at Longchamp in France and the York in England. Just 25 days before the '85 Million, the original Arlington Park was demolished by fire. However, 35,651 fans filled temporary facilities to watch Teleprompter win the race. Marlin captured the Million at Woodbine in '97 because work was launched to completely rebuild Arlington. The race wasn't held in '98 or '99 as the track was shuttered - thus this is the silver anniversary edition. Check out Horse Racing Betting Odds at WagerWeb Racebook.