Easy success for Highland Reel Seamus Heffernan's belated US debut proved a winning one as Highland Reel made all in a monsoon to win the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park on Saturday. The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt, second in the French Derby and then the winner of the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, was sent to the front by his experienced pilot and allowed to dictate easy fractions. Heffernan had the sense to make the most of the gift and quickened at exactly the right time, poaching lengths around the final bend. But rather than close in upon the leader in the final stages, Highland Gift simply kept on galloping and passed the winning post well clear of the staying-on Closing Bell, who denied Force The Pass second place in a photograph. "I didn't see much pace in it. And if there wasn't much pace in it, and you've got a horse like this who gallops and stays and is honest, you know what to do," said Heffernan. "When it started raining it felt like home! I was never in any doubt. I won easy." O'Brien, who was winning the race for the second year running after the success of Adelaide 12 months ago, was represented by assistant TJ Comerford, who added: "Aidan was delighted with him, he's a good horse. "Nobody wanted to make it and if they don't Aidan has no problem with it. Aidan likes the horse and there are plenty of races for him." The European raiders had already got on the scoresheet at the meeting when Irish raider Panama Hat was just denied by the German-trained Lucky Speed got up to claim the American St Leger. The Andy Oliver-trained Panama Hat was given a fine ride by Chris Hayes, travelling in fourth for much of the journey before making his move three furlongs out. Kicking off the bend, it looked like the four-year-old would record a famous success, but Peter Schiergen's Lucky Speed had gone equally as well under Andrasch Starke and proved more than able to cover the move. Panama Hat kept on bravely, but former German Derby winner Lucky Speed had too many guns and ran out a cosy winner in the end, booking a likely ticket to the Canadian International. Starke said: "I rode him four weeks ago in Woodbine and we knew he needed more distance, which he had today. He can handle the American tracks very well. "He won the Derby two years ago, there was enough pace for him - I saw the Irish horse and he fought well. "It's my first winner in the United States, to win the St Leger is amazing." There was no further success for Europe in the big one though as local hero The Pizza Man delivered top honours in the Arlington Million for trainer Roger Brueggemann and jockey Florent Geroux. Shining Copper had made a valiant effort from the front, but just gave way at the finish as prolific course winner The Pizza Man flashed home and enough left to beat favourite Big Blue Kitten. John Gosden's Maverick Wave dropped away very tamely after tracking Shining Copper, but Elleval ran a huge race for David Marnane in fifth, with Belgian Bill further back after being forced to drop right out from his wide draw.
