The Mike Maker-trained Atone will try to get back into the winner's circle on Saturday when he faces 10 others in the 2023 Arlington Million at Colonial Downs. The 6-year-old son of Into Mischief has seven wins in 25 career starts, but has lost his last two races. Despite the losing streak, he is the 7-2 favorite in the 2023 Arlington Million odds. Rockemperor, trained by Chad Brown and on a four-race losing streak, is the 5-1 second choice in the 11-horse 2023 Arlington Million field. Never Explain (6-1) and Set Piece (6-1) round out the top four 2023 Arlington Million horses.
Post time is 6:40 p.m. ET. With an accomplished and evenly matched field set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you'll want to see what SportsLine writer Gene Menez has to say before making any 2023 Arlington Million picks.
A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as SI's handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010. In 2015, while writing for Sports on Earth, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund and Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for $2. Then in 2017, he tweeted out his Kentucky Derby picks, including Always Dreaming to win, and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet.
On Dec. 26 of last year, Menez hit the Pick 5 at Santa Anita Park for $798.70. Then in a span of seven races earlier this year he cashed the winner of the Lecomte Stakes ($172.50), the exacta in the Southwest Stakes ($468), the winner of the Holy Bull Stakes ($180), the winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes ($228), the place horse of the Rebel Stakes ($102.50) and the trifecta in the Jenny Wiley Stakes ($255.50). And in May he nailed the winner of the Preakness Stakes ($234).
Now, he has handicapped the 2023 Arlington Million lineup, made his picks and constructed his bets. Head to SportsLine to see them.
Top 2023 Arlington Million predictions
One surprise: Menez is completely tossing the 7-2 morning-line favorite, Atone. A $130,000 purchase two years ago, Atone has earned almost $1.2 million in his career. He is best known for winning the Pegasus World Cup Turf in January.
But Menez does not like that Atone has struggled since that race, finishing last of nine in the Muniz Memorial and fifth of seven in the Dinner Party Stakes. "Atone needs to get back to his form early in the year, and there's no guarantee that will happen," Menez told SportsLine. Menez is not using Atone in any of his 2023 Arlington Million bets. See who else to fade at SportsLine.
Another curveball: Menez is high on the chances of Catnip, even though he's an 8-1 longshot. A four-year-old son of Kitten's Joy, Catnip has blossomed in 2023, with three wins and a second in four career starts. His breakthrough win came two starts ago when he took home the Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes.
Menez likes that Catnip has enough early speed to secure prime position in this 11-horse 2023 Arlington Million lineup. "With his tactical speed, he could get a cozy spot right behind Strong Quality and Atone and get the jump on the rest of the field," Menez told SportsLine. Menez is using Catnip prominently in his 2023 Arlington Million bets. See who else to back at SportsLine.
How to make 2023 Arlington Million picks
Menez's top pick is a horse who is in "career-best form." He also is high on double-digit longshot who is a "legitimate threat." Menez is including these horses in his wagers, and so should you. He's sharing which horses to back only at SportsLine.
So who wins the Arlington Million 2023? What double-digit longshot has a big chance? And how has Menez constructed his wagers? Check out the latest Arlington Million odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Menez's picks for the Arlington Million, and find out.
2023 Arlington Million odds, post positions
| Prg # | Horse | Odds | Projection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strong Tide | 15-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 2 | Never Explain | 6-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 3 | Set Piece | 6-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 4 | Atone | 7-2 | SEE PICKS |
| 5 | Rockemperor | 5-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 6 | Master Piece | 12-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 7 | Strong Quality | 12-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 8 | Catnip | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 9 | Adhamo | 10-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 10 | Win for the Money | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 11 | Santin | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
