Denisovich Second In Arlington

Ivan Denisovich produced a late flourish to take second place in the Grade One Secretariat Stakes at Arlington.

Aidan O'Brien's charge has yet to scale the heights of his juvenile season this year but, having been switched wide by John Velazquez, showed an impressive turn of foot along the straight.

It was not enough for a confidence-boosting success, however, as the Barclay Tagg-trained Showing Up made all the running to win by a length and a half.

Velazquez said: 'I bided my time and then I had to go four-wide at the quarter pole.

'It was just too much to make up. He ran hard and if he didn't have to go round those three horses in front of me, I might have won ? but that is part of racing.'

By contrast, Tagg could barely conceal his delight at the outcome and said: 'I was impressed with him and he ran even better than I thought he would.

'I knew he'd run well but I never expected this. He has shown versatility in all of his races.'

William Haggas' Primary also lost nothing in defeat with a staying-on third-placed finish, a further half a length in arrears.

His jockey Robby Albarado said: 'He didn't negotiate the second turn really well but he straightened out turning for home and he kept coming.

'He ran a big race to be up for third. He will be a better four-year-old and definitely an Arlington Million horse.'

? PA Sport