Bailey has real shot at Festival sweep

Four years ago, Jerry Bailey rolled to a mammoth afternoon onMillion Day at Arlington Park. The Hall of Fame reinsmanopened by winning the $750,000 Beverly D. for Gary Tanaka aboard SnowPolina. He then piloted Bobby Frankel's Chester House to victory inthe Million, which that particular day was worth a one-time gross of$2 million.

Bailey concluded his grand drop-in by almost winning the $400,000Secretariat on 3-5 favorite King Cugat. Only a determined stretch runby Mick Kinane astride Aidan O'Brien's Ciro prevented a Bailey sweepof Arlington's three Grade I races. King Cugat finished second by onelength.

Saturday at Arlington, some industry experts suggest that the 48-year-old jockey has an even stronger hand heading into the Big Threeof the oval's International Festival of Racing. He is listed on twomorning-line favorites, including Million chalk Sweet Return (7-2)and overwhelming Secretariat favorite Kitten's Joy (8-5). And hisBeverly D. mount --Frankel's Commercante (5-2) -- is second pickbehind Musical Chimes (2-1).

Is the first sweep of the AP golden trio looming?

Not so fast," Bailey said after a full afternoon of riding atSaratoga on Thursday. "You can only take things one race at a time.Do I like my three mounts on Saturday? Yes, definitely. But am Igoing in thinking I'm going to sweep the International Festival ofRacing? I don't think that's a good approach to take. Talk to meafter two and I'll let you know where I'm at."

Still, Bailey acknowledged that Kitten's Joy -- trained by theskyrocketing Kentuckian Dale Romans -- is 'probably the best 3-year-old in the country." He said Commercante is "a filly that Iabsolutely love. She tries so hard."

But Sweet Return in the Million?

'That is such a hard race," Bailey said. "Not that the othersaren't. But with a 13-horse field and all of the spotlight, so manythings have to go right for you to win. We have an excellent shot, Iwill say that."

Bailey is 2-for-6 lifetime in the Million. He is a neoned 2-for-3in the Bev. D, also winning with Memories of Silver in 1997. But heis 0-for-8 in the Secretariat with the place effort aboard King Cugatbeing his best finish.

THE NEW YORK-BASED SUPERSTAR is one of five jockeys listed withmounts in all three classics. Others include Frankie Dettori, who hasCrimson Palace (15-1) in the Bev. D, Vespone (12-1) in the Millionand Hazyview (9-2) in the Secretariat and Pat Day, with Bev D.starter Riskaverse (12-1), Mr. O'Brien (8-1) in the Million and CoolConductor (6-1) in the Secretariat.

Also trying to triple are Edgar Prado (Aubonne, Bev. D, 30-1;Magistretti, Million, 30-1; and Greek Sun, Secretariat, 3-1) and 23-year-old Irishman Jamie Spencer (Necklace, Bev. D, 12-1; Powerscourt,Million 4-1; and Moscow Ballet, Secretariat, 5-1).

O'Brien and Frankel are the only trainers with starters in allthree of Arlington's main events.

TIM YAKTEEN, an assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, confirmed thatthe West Coast-based star will not be coming to Arlington thisweekend to saddle Sabiango (6-1) and Senor Swinger (12-1) in theMillion. Yakteen said that Baffert will monitor progress fromSouthern California while Yakteen and Mick Jenner complete finalhands-on work.

ON THE SUBJECT of jockey oddities, keenest Million clockers notethat of the 13 scheduled starters, only one -- Senor Swinger, withBrice Blanc -- was ridden to victory in his last start by the riderslated to pilot him on Saturday.

Four starters -- Magistretti (Prado), Kicken Kris (KentDesormeaux), Sabiango (Victor Espinoza) and Hatif (Mike Smith) --will be steered for the first time by the jockeys aboard them atMillion post time.

TODAY'S DAILY RACING FORM will carry complete past performancesfor all three of Saturday's classics. Legendary Form artist PierreBellcoq ("PEB") has completed work on a cover focusing on the APInternational Festival of Racing for Saturday's edition of the turfBible.

EPALO, ONE OF THE latest German runners set to compete for Milliondeutschmarks, galloped on the Arlington turf Thursday. "Just tostretch his legs," said trainer Andreas Schutz. ... Day and Baileyare the only jocks scheduled to compete on Saturday who have wonMillions.