Expert Pick of the Week: 2025 Arlington Million

Aug 06, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Integration winning the Hill Prince (G2) at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand)

Eight grassy specialists will run 1 1/4 miles over the Colonial Downs lawn in Saturday’s $1 million Arlington Million S. (G1). The morning-line choice for the race is the Shug McGaughey-trained Integration, who is in search of his initial top-level tally. The Quality Road five-year-old has been runner-up in four Grade 1 tilts in his last seven outings, and I expect the Kentucky-bred to finally break through and secure his first Grade 1 victory.

Second in the race in 2024 while facing a deeper cast, Integration commenced this season with a neck second in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park, which preceded a second-place run in the Maker’s Mark Mile S. (G1) at Keeneland in April. The $1.6 million earner was last seen finishing a head second in the Manhattan S. (G1) behind the surging Deterministic at Saratoga.

#4 Integration adds another stakes win to his resume in the Million Preview S. at @colonialdowns under @kendrickcarmou1 for trainer Shug McGaughey! 🏆

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/IHxDPOXv0r

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) July 13, 2024

Integration loves Colonial Downs, evidenced by his 4-3-1-0 mark at this venue, and comes in fresh with some excellent morning drills as of late. He possesses good tactical speed as well as a nice turn of foot, and in a field with a lot of pace, he should receive a perfect voyage while in the clear every step of the way. John Velazquez will guide the leading selection.

McGaughey’s Fort Washington has arguably never been better and might be the main danger to the top pick. The son of War Front has bagged Grade 3 races in two of his last trio of assignments and will stretch out to 1 1/4 miles for the first time, which might be to his benefit. Late-running six-year-old checked in third in his lone prior race over this lawn and seems poised to make noise inside the final furlong with Junior Alvarado taking the reins.

The 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) star Mystik Dan is back in his best form currently for conditioner Kenny McPeek. The Goldencents colt comes off a strong fourth behind three standouts in the Stephen Foster S. (G1) and will give the turf a try for the initial time. He breezed five panels on the green at Saratoga most recently and could win this race on class alone. Regular pilot Brian Hernandez, Jr. will be in the silks once again.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #8 Integration on top of #1 Mystik Dan and #6 Fort Washington in the 2025 Arlington Million is the Best Bet of the Week.