Study Guide: 2025 Arlington Million

Aug 05, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Mystik Dan draped in the garland of roses (Photo by Horsephotos/Getty Images)

The Kentucky Derby (G1) is a dirt race, but every once in a while, a Kentucky Derby winner switches surfaces to give turf a try. Such will be the case on Saturday when Mystik Dan tries turf in the $1 million Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs.

Held over the same 1 1/4-mile distance as the Kentucky Derby, the Arlington Million has drawn an eight-horse field for its 2025 renewal. Let’s meet the contenders:

Mystik Dan

Mystik Dan wins the Blame at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 14
Wins: 4
Place: 3
Show: 1

Owner: Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm
Breeder: Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, and 4G Racing
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (103) when winning the Blame (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $4,467,120

Sire: Goldencents
Dam: Ma’am
Color: Bay

Winner of the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) against a strong field, Mystik Dan has never raced on turf. But his pedigree suggests the surface switch won’t be an issue. His willingness to save ground inside and behind rivals is well-suited to grass racing, as is the sharp acceleration he displays on occasion. Mystik Dan has a strong chance to make his turf debut a winning one in the Arlington Million.

Time Song

Start(s): 12
Wins: 1
Place: 4
Show: 2

Owner: Baron Racing Stables
Breeder: Bill Heiligbrodt and Corinne Heiligbrodt
Trainer: Jonathan Thomas
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing second in a $40,000 allowance optional claimer at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $109,112

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: New Song
Color: Chestnut

Time Song has competed all around the country, most recently in California, where he ran second in the June 15 San Juan Capistrano (G3) at Santa Anita. But the Arlington Million is a tougher spot, and Time Song will need improvement to challenge for a top-three finish.

Vesting

Start(s): 10
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 2

Owner: Three Diamonds Farm
Breeder: Mrs. S. Rowley-Williams
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Top Speed Rating: (101) when finishing second in a $35,000 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $165,550

Sire: Blue Point
Dam: Wild Child
Color: Bay

Vesting enjoys running long on turf, as he demonstrated when leading all the way to win a 1 1/2-mile $50,000 allowance optional claimer at Aqueduct. But he failed to factor in his lone stakes start, so stepping up in class for the Arlington Million is a question mark.

Runaway Storm

Runaway Storm wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 8
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Robert J. Hunt
Breeder: Robert Joseph Hunt
Trainer: Ethan West
Jockey: Alex Achard

Top Speed Rating: (96) when winning an allowance at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Total Earnings: $329,061

Sire: Midnight Storm
Dam: Runaway Betty
Color: Bay

Runaway Storm showed promise as a three-year-old in 2023, winning the Bryan Station (G3) and placing third against a deep field in the Virginia Derby (G3). But he only ran once last year and is 0-for-2 in 2025. Brisnet Speed ratings suggest Runaway Storm may find the competition a bit too tough at Colonial Downs.

Cairo

Start(s): 21
Wins: 3
Place: 9
Show: 2

Owner: Refai Alghraiban
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Alice Haynes
Jockey: Ben Curtis

Top Speed Rating: N/A
Total Earnings: $571,977

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Cuff
Color: Bay

European raider Cairo exits a respectable third-place finish in the one-mile Queen Anne (G1) at Royal Ascot. He’s been competing at a high level for years and warrants respect in his North American debut, though you can make a case that 1 1/4 miles is a little farther than he wants to run.

Fort Washington

Fort Washington wins the Dinner Party. (Photo by Maryland Jockey Club / Credit to Jeffrey Snyder)

Start(s): 27
Wins: 6
Place: 3
Show: 8

Owner: Magic Cap Stables
Breeder: Joseph Allen and White Birch Farm
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (102) when finishing eighth in the United Nations (G2) at Monmouth Park.
Total Earnings: $744,582

Sire: War Front
Dam: Azaelia
Color: Dark bay/brown

Fort Washington misfired when finishing in a dead-heat for fourth place in the Wise Dan (G2) last time out, but he’d previously won the Canadian Turf (G3) and Dinner Party (G3) in succession. This stretch-running veteran of 27 starts has the credentials to challenge for a top-three finish in the Arlington Million.

Grand Sonata

Grand Sonata wins the Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs. (Photo by Coady Media / Credit to Christine Hayden)

Start(s): 30
Wins: 5
Place: 8
Show: 2

Owner: Whisper Hill Farm
Breeder: Whisper Hill Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (106) when finishing second by a nose in the United Nations (G2) at Monmouth Park.
Total Earnings: $2,244,935

Sire: Medaglia d’Oro
Dam: A. P. Sonata
Color: Dark bay/brown

Grand Sonata isn’t the most consistent horse in training, but on his best day, he’s a force to reckon with. He won the Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) last fall and exits a runner-up finish in the United Nations (G2), so dismiss Grand Sonata at your own risk.

Integration

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

Start(s): 14
Wins: 5
Place: 4
Show: 1

Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing
Breeder: Larkin Armstrong
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (99) when finishing second in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $1,643,950

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Harmonize
Color: Bay

As the 8-5 favorite on the morning line, Integration is the horse to beat at Colonial Downs. Runner-up in the 2024 Arlington Million, Integration is winless in 2025, but boasts runner-up finishes against tough competition in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), Maker’s Mark Mile (G1), and Manhattan (G1) this season. Saturday’s race may be the perfect opportunity for Integration to snatch his first Grade 1 win.

The field for the G1 Arlington Million at @ColonialDowns! 🏆📝 @KentuckyDerby winner Mystik Dan tries 🍀 for the first time and draws the rail. 👀 pic.twitter.com/FE8DFzywll

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 2, 2025