Sea O'Erin looks like a tough call

Here's everything I know. You Broken Down Horseplayers shouldknow it, too. Today's feature Sea O'Erin Handicap at Arlington InternationalRacecourse is another of those tough races to select the winner.Like Arlington Million IX Sept. 3, almost every entrant has a chanceto win the one-mile race on the turf.

I'm going to select Exclusive Partner because he's loaded withclass. He had the same class when I picked him to win the Swoon'sSon Handicap here July 22, but he really didn't fire. He finishedthird, beaten six lengths by Frosty The Snowman, who may run a nicerace in the Arlington Million.

I don't believe Exclusive Partner was dead fit when he ran inthe Swoon's Son on soft turf. I'm quite sure conditions will be morefavorable for him this time. He may win even if it rains, but he'llbe better off if it doesn't. Fernando Toro will come in from Del Marto ride him.

Arlington's 10-race program will include the $250,000 IselinHandicap to be simulcast from Monmouth Park where Chicago'sCryptoclearance, trying to get his bankroll over $3 million lifetime,may be a co-favorite with Proper Reality. These two have finechances to win, but I might bet a bob or two on Present Value, who isin rare form, winning the Equipoise Mile at Arlington, the CanterburyCup and Michigan Mile in his last three starts. The Iselin will be a great 1 1/8-mile contest, but I could just aswell enjoy the $200,000 Hopeful for 2-year-olds at Saratoga, wherethey also have last year's Kentucky Derby winner, Winning Colors,running in the first race with Pat Day riding, and Equalize, one ofthe country's best turf horses, running in the $150,000 SaratogaBudweiser Breeders' Cup.

I couldn't say the next Derby winner isn't in the 6 1/2-furlongHopeful field. I wish Arlington could just show that race on thescreens even if it cannot take bets.

Hopeful starters are Summer Squall with jockey Day aboard (Doeshe have a monopoly on the best mounts?), undefeated in four startsthat include three stakes and the Budweiser Breeders' Cup this springat Churchill Downs; Adjudication, winner of two starts, but a defeatin the Sapling when the strip was sloppy; Carson City, winner of theTyro and Sapling at Monmouth Park; Bite the Bullet, winner of tworaces from three starts, and Eternal Flight and Dr. Bobby A., whohave shown excellent form. Don't ask me who I like for the Million. Too many have chances, butNasr el Arab and Great Communicator look great. Others with goodchances are El Senor, Fijar Tango, French Stress and Frosty TheSnowman. Trainer Pete Divito is in the Northwest Community Hospital inArlington Heights recovering from an operation. Champions from everywhere will be in the Breeders' Cup Nov. 4 atGulfstream Park, where like Arlington they'll have a festival.Gulfstream's will be for three days, Nov. 3-5, and Arlington's willbe a four-day deal, Sept. 1-4. Gulfstream, besides having the fiveraces for $1 million, two races at $2 million and the Classic for3-year-olds and up for $3 million at 1 1/4 miles that may bringBlushing John and Easy Goer together, will also showcase three$100,000 races.

What are these fellows doing with my money? I invested fortunesover my few years on the turf in both Arlington and Gulfstream. Arlington secretary Tommy Trotter has big deals going - the $100,000Pucker Up for 3-year-old fillies Sept. 1, the $500,000 Beverly D.named for the late wife of Arlington's boss, Dick Duchossois, Sept.2; the Million Sept. 3, and the $250,000 Secretariat for 3-year-oldsat 1 1/4 miles Sept. 4. Where's Awe Inspiring for the Secretariat?He may be here.

Arlington's four features will be on the turf, rain or shine.So will Gulfstream's. I must get a stack of BDH buttons. I never had so many requests. I wrote Arlington developed 50,000 new BDH. Duchossois said hethought the number was closer to 100,000. I'll settle for 75,000.