Nations Delight rallied beneath a assured experience by jockey William Buick to a 1 3/4-length victory within the Grade 1 Arlington Million Aug. 11 at Colonial Downs over a small however gifted forged of rivals.
Nations Delight, a 5-year-old Godolphin homebred educated by Charlie Appleby, scored his fourth North American victory. He is also a Group 1 winner in Germany and scored on the Group 3 stage in Dubai.
Coming into the Million off a second within the Grade 1 Resorts World On line casino Manhattan Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, Buick settled Nations Delight in third whereas charging down the Colonial Downs backstretch. Longshot Sugoi despatched out to an enormous lead as they approached the far flip however shortly light when the stretch run loomed. Nations Delight willingly took the lead when requested for his run after which held off Integration, the winner of final 12 months’s Grade 3 New Kent County Virginia Derby, who completed second. Historical Rome and Speak of the Nation had been third and fourth.
“Look, he was the very best horse within the race, and we knew that,” Buick mentioned of Nations Delight. “He is an thrilling horse and he is gained 4 Grade 1s now.
The Million’s storied historical past began in 1981 at Arlington Park Racecourse in suburban Chicago and provided the primary seven-figure Thoroughbred purse in historical past. John Henry put the occasion on the map with a dramatic, last-stride victory over The Bart — a end that was commemorated in a life-size bronze statue that stood on the balcony overlooking the paddock till Arlington was closed after the 2021 season.
Virginia racing followers at Colonial Downs Aug. 11 had been handled to a duel of Canadian Horse of the Yr titlists within the Grade 2 $500,000 Beverly D. Stakes as Moira and Fev Rover got here right down to the ultimate jumps with Moira rising victorious beneath jockey Jose Ortiz.
Moira, the 2022 Canadian Horse of the Yr, exited the beginning gate as the favourite whereas 2023 Canadian Horse of the Yr Fev Rover aimed to repeat her frontrunning victory within the 2023 operating of the Beverly D.
“It is all the time nerve-wracking whenever you hook Fev Rover. She’s an awesome horse,” mentioned Moira’s coach Kevin Attard. “I feel Fev Rover will get the sting over us on softer floor however Moira prefers more durable turf.”
Moira stopped the clock in 1:54.80 for the 1 3/16 miles and paid $3.40 to win. Fav Rover was second and Neecie Marie completed third.
“She’s all the time been a particular horse to us,” mentioned Attard. “It is good to see her reel off consecutive races of consistency in opposition to top-quality horses.
Selecting up the second graded victory of her profession, Moira improved her document to 6-5-2 from 15 begins for earnings of $1,823,999.
The Beverly D. is part of the Breeders’ Cup Problem “win and also you’re in” Collection, and Moira earned an automated free entry into the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf Nov. 2 at Del Mar, a race she completed third in final 12 months.
“That is the place we’re heading,” Attard mentioned earlier than including that her last prep will doubtless happen within the $750,000 Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes at her dwelling monitor of Woodbine on Sept. 14. — Sean Collins
