British hopes Running Stag and Slickly cut little ice in the revived Arlington Million on Saturday nightt.
But Irish raider Ciro provided some cheer for Europe - and gave a big boost to Derby winner Sinndar - by winning the Grade One Secretariat Stakes on the same card in Chicago.
Running Stag, more usually seen racing on dirt in the USA, tired in the straight to finish sixth in the feature two-million-dollar turf event, which was being staged for the first time since 1997.
Trainer Philip Mitchell said: 'It was soft turf and the mile and a quarter on soft ground may be a little too much for him.'
Jockey Shane Sellers is confident the money-spinning six-year-old will bounce back. 'He`s a war horse,' the rider said. 'I`m sure I still have some big ones to win with him.'
Godolphin`s Slickly also lost touch in the straight, and finished last of the seven runners.
Jockey Frankie Dettori said: 'My horse didn`t handle the track at all. He was never comfortable. I knewmy fate at the half-mile pole. It`s a shame because he`s talented.'
First prize in the third leg of the Emirates world series of racing went to the former Henry Cecil-trained Chester House, who came home three and a quarter lengths ahead of Manndar in the hands of Jerry Bailey.
Manndar was trained for most of last season by Luca Cumani in Newmarket, and another ex-British runner - Bienamado - was fourth.
Later Ciro, beaten over 10 lengths into third place behind Sinndar in the Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh last month, gave Aidan O`Brien his first American success in the Secretariat Stakes.
After challenging wide under Michael Kinane he got up close home to beat favourite King Cugat by a length.
'He took a while to get going,' Kinane said. 'They went a good gallop and as soon as the pace slackened a little bit I was able to work my way home well.'
Fellow Irish trainer Dermot Weld`s Pine Dance was last of eight with British challenger Compton Bolter, trained by Gerard Butler, fifth.
Mick Ryan`s Diamond White finished under three lengths fourth under Dettori in the Beverly D Stakes, in which Bailey initiated a Grade One double with victory on Snow Polina.
