Tryster, World Approval draw wide in 13-horse Arlington Million

International raider Tryster and United Nations (G1) winner World Approval will receive plenty of support in Saturday’s $1 million Arlington Million (G1), but the top contenders must overcome outside posts. World Approval drew post 11 and Tryster is one spot to his immediate outside in the 13-horse field.

The 34^th running of the 1 ¼-mile turf affair serves as a “Win and You’re In” event for the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on November 5.

Tryster captured the Jebel Hatta (G1) in early March before recording a third in the Dubai Turf (G1) and a fifth in the Prince of Wales (G1) at Royal Ascot in June. The 5-year-old Sharmardal gelding figures to appreciate the class relief at Arlington and regular rider William Buick accompanies the Charles Appleby trainee.

Second in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) and third in the Manhattan (G1), World Approval will enter on the upswing following a 1 ¼-length score in the July 3 United Nations at Monmouth Park. Conditioned by Mark Casse, the 4-year-old Northern Afleet gelding retains the services Florent Geroux.

Formerly based in Germany, Wake Forest finished sixth when making his U.S. bow in last year’s Million and was transferred to Chad Brown for a 2016 campaign. The 6-year-old earned his first Grade/Group 1 tally in the Man o’ War at Belmont Park two starts back and will attempt to rebound from a third-place effort as the United Nations favorite. Flavien Prat takes over the reins.

The Pizza Man will make a title defense, becoming the first Illinois-bred winner last year, but the 7-year-old gelding needs to find form after opening this season with three consecutive unplaced efforts, including a fourth most recently in the Stars and Stripes (G3) at Arlington. Mike Smith, who was up for a victory in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) last November, retakes the mount.

English-based Mondialiste is a serious challenger with his best, winning the 2015 Woodbine Mile (G1) prior to a runner-up effort in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Keeneland. The 6-year-old son of Galileo will return to the U.S. off a runner-up in the July 23 York (G2) and regular rider Daniel Tudhope has the assignment for David O’Meara.

Kasaqui prepped for his Million bid with a victory in the July 9 Arlington H. (G3) and Greengrassofwyoming will bypass the American St. Leger (G3) in favor of the Million after taking the Stars and Stripes on the same program.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien will be represented by the 3-year-old Deauville, who steps up to face elders following a win in the July 9 Belmont Derby (G1). Hall of Famer Bill Mott is responsible for a pair in Take the Stand, who makes his first appearance since winning the Mervin Muniz Jr. Memorial (G2) in late March; and Grade 3 victor Dubai Sky, who returned from a 15-month layoff with a nose second in a Churchill Downs allowance.

Completing the Million field are last-out Grade/Group 3 winners Danish Dynaformer and Decorated Knight; and Stars and Stripes third-placer Pumpkin Rumble.