Magician second in Million

Magician was denied a second major win America as Hardest Core recorded a surprise success in the Arlington Million.

Given a positive ride by Joseph O’Brien in the Chicago showpiece, Breeders’ Cup hero Magician was run down in the closing stages by the Eddie Graham-trained Hardest Core, who scored by a length under Erilius Vaz.

Once a possible for a jumping career, Graham said: “We jumped him a couple times, he’s a pure, natural jumper, but we just messed with him, always (with) intentions of Flat racing because he was doing so well.”