Is There a Silver Lining for Tin Man in Arlington Million?
The Tin Man is primed to defend his Arlington Million title and become the only horse to record back-to-back victories in its 25-year history. The 9-year-old gelding, who gets better with age, is one of the last siblings of ’78 Triple Crown champ Affirmed, who passed away in ’01. Even the great John Henry, enjoying retirement at 32, didn’t accomplish that feat. But he also got better as he got older, winning the first of two Arlington Millions at 6. His nose victory over The Bart in ’81 is immortalized in bronze — both horses lifelike battling to the wire — at the top of the Illinois track’s paddock. In ’83, John Henry thought he won despite coming up a neck short of Tolomeo. “He promptly took himself into the winner’s circle,” according to eyewitnesses. “It took quite a few people to drag him out, biting and kicking.” A year later, John Henry made amends at 9, winning five graded stakes at five different tracks. He made his last race a winning one, the Ballantine Scotch Classic at the
