Nations Pride headlines the Arlington Million at Colonial Downs on August 10

Boasting a resume with six stakes wins in five countries, Godolphin’s Irish-bred Nations Pride leads a field of six for the 1¼-mile Grade 1 Arlington Million, the grand finale of seven stakes at Colonial Downs’ Festival of Racing on August 10. The Arlington Million is race 11 of 12, preceded by the 1-3/16 miles Grade 2 $500,000 Beverly D for fillies and mares and the one-mile Grade 2 $500,000 Secretariat Stakes for 3-year-olds. The program starts at 1 p.m. ET.

The 2024 Festival of Racing includes four additional stakes: the $100,000 Petramalo Mile for 3-year-olds, the $100,000 Penny Chenery at seven furlongs, the $150,000 Van Clief for older runners at 5½ furlongs on turf, and the $150,000 Andy Guest. Total purse money is $2.5 million.

Making his third start of his 5-year-old campaign, Nations Pride was runner-up to a fellow Charlie Appleby trainee in the Manhattan (G1). His 2023 campaign included winning the Canadian International (G1) at Woodbine. As a 3-year-old, he won the Saratoga Derby (G1) and Jockey Club Derby (G3). William Buick will ride both Nations Pride, starting from post 4, and Mischief Magic, the favorite in the Van Clief Stakes.

Nations Pride’s competition includes Mrs. Fitriani Hay’s Ancient Rome, a group stakes winner in the Prix des Chenes (G3) at Longchamp. The 5-year-old added the Mint Millions (G3) at Kentucky Downs in 2023. Trained by Charlie Hills, Ancient Rome starts from post 2 with jockey Jamie Spencer.

Integration, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and others, is three-for-three over Colonial’s Secretariat Turf Course. His dominant win in the Million Preview was his fourth career victory. Kendrick Carmouche will ride from the rail.

Allen Stable and CHC Inc.’s Talk of the Nation is consistent, finishing in the top three in eight straight stakes. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he exits a second-place finish in the Kelso (G3). Jose Ortiz will ride from post 6.

Paradise Farms and David Staudacher’s Sugoi has returned to form under trainer Mike Maker. Claimed for $50,000 last April, he won the Louisville (G3) and led deep into the stretch in the Chorleywood. Julien Leparoux will ride from post 3.

Mrs. Fitriani Hay’s Highland Chief will make his fourth start of the year in the Arlington Million. Last out, he ran second in the Prince George’s County Stakes at Laurel Park. Trainer Graham Motion calls on John Velazquez to ride.

Here is the complete field for the Arlington Million (G1) from the rail out with jockey, trainer and morning line: Integration (Carmouche, McGaughey, 5-2), Ancient Rome (Spencer, Hills, 3-1), Sugoi (Leparoux, Maker, 8-1), Nations Pride (Buick, Appleby, 8-5), Highland Chief (Velazquez, Motion, 12-1), and Talk of the Nation (Ortiz, Pletcher, 6-1).