Ten names were on the list of pre-entries for the 26th Arlington Million, but only eight came out of the box when final entries were taken Wednesday. Two pre-entered horses, Cosmonaut and Out of Control, are staying home, but the other eight make an appealing lot, with English shipper Archipenko installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite.

Not only does trainer Steve Asmussen now know exactly where he's going next with reigning Horse of the Year Curlin, he has a definite plan to get him there.

After Mr Napper Tandy finished fourth in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap, trainer Jack Carava kicked around starting the colt in the Pacific Classic. The idea was abandoned this week when an optional $100,000 claimer over a mile was offered on Friday's eight-race program.

Unbeaten in two starts heading into Sunday's $150,000 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar, Azul Leon is already one of the best 2-year-olds in California this summer. And he only needs six more consecutive wins this year to keep pace with the best horse ever owned by his owner and breeder, Joseph LaCombe.

Precious Kitten has been listed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in a field of nine entered in Saturday's $750,000 Beverly D. at Arlington Park.

The Maryland Jockey Club has canceled its only graded stakes races - the Grade 1 Frank J. De Francis Dash and the Grade 3 Safely Kept Stakes - during the 17-week Laurel Park meet that begins Sept. 3.

Archipenko was a disappointment early in his career for Coolmore, but after being sold, he has turned into a rising international turf star for trainer Mike de Kock. On Saturday he'll try to add the Arlington Million to his list of big wins.