Arlington Million Reclaims Some International Flavor

A decided international flavor returns to the Arlington Million (G1T) Aug. 10 at Colonial Downs with half of the six entries boasting experience in multiple countries.

The Million, first run in 1981, offered the world's first seven-figure Thoroughbred purse and quickly elevated the image of American turf racing, particularly in Europe, in the run-up to the first Breeders' Cup World Championships races in 1984.

That impact was magnified quickly when Tolomeo  edged John Henry to win the 1983 edition for trainer Luca Cumani with Pat Eddery riding and Teleprompter won the "Miracle Million" for the 18th Earl of Derby in 1984 a month after the Arlington Park grandstand was destroyed by fire.

Through the decades, the race has been won by some of the world's notable connections including Lord Derby, whose family name is world renowned, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin, the Coolmore "lads" from Ireland, Princess Haya of Jordan, and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.

Since Churchill Downs Inc. shuttered Arlington International Racecourse after the 2021 season, the race has been virtually devoid of global competition. But it doesn't get more international than this year's 8-5 morning-line favorite, Nations Pride .

The 5-year-old Godolphin homebred son of Teofilo , fifth in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland, has more stamps on his passport than some diplomats. He's run in England, Dubai, Germany, Canada, Bahrain, and the United States. Along the way, he has won the 2022 Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1T), the 2023 Canadian International Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine and the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis-Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (G1) in Munich.

This year, after a winter break, trainer Charlie Appleby decided against sending Nations Pride to Dubai and instead rested him up for a U.S. campaign that started with a third in the Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at the Belmont at the Big A meeting at Aqueduct Racetrack and a second in the Manhattan Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course | BloodHorse.com Track Profile">Saratoga Race Course behind Godolphin stablemate Measured Time .

"I thought Nations Pride was coming with a run and the one thing he does is finish strong," Appleby said after the 1 3/16-mile Manhattan. "It's great to see him so competitive."

He gets another 1/16th of a mile in the 1 1/4-mile Million.

Ancient Rome  provides more international flavor. He is a Kentucky-bred son of War Front   but trains in England from Charlie Hills' yard after being switched from France and the care of Andre Fabre in the summer of 2023. He won his first start for Hills and new owner Fitri Hay at Goodwood that August, then shipped across the Atlantic for the first time to win the $2 million Mint Millions Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs.

From that, he went to France to finish fourth in the Prix Dollar (G2). After a break of nearly nine months, he showed little in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot this June, finishing 12th, but then rebounded to report second in the Summer Mile Stakes (G2) at Ascot July 13, beaten only by the undefeated Kingman   colt Quddwah .

The home team includes an arguable horse for the course in Integration . The 4-year-old Quality Road   colt is perfect in three starts over Colonial's Secretariat Turf Course including the Virginia Derby (G3T) and a 6 1/2-length drubbing of just two rivals over a soft course in the Million Preview Stakes July 13. Kendrick Carmouche retains the mount for trainer Shug McGaughey.

Seven-year-old Highland Chief , also owned by Fitri Hay, adds another dash of international spice. After racing in top company in England and France early in his career, he won the 2022 Man o' War Stakes (G1T) in his second American start and has remained on this side of the Atlantic. Trained by Graham Motion, he prepped for the Million with a second-place finish in the Prince George's County Stakes July 14.

Talk of the Nation , another 4-year-old Quality Road colt, has finished worse than third only once in 11 starts but still seeks his first graded stakes win. The Todd Pletcher charge exits a runner-up finish in the Kelso Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga July 13.

Sugoi , a 7-year-old gelding by Karakontie  , has found new life back on the turf after toiling on dirt and all-weather tracks. He was claimed for $50,000 at Keeneland April 25 by trainer Mike Maker for Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher and promptly posted a front-running victory in the Louisville Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs. He backed that up with a second behind Webslinger  in the Chorleywood Stakes June 15 over the same course.