By Alan Carasso
It is no longer referred to as the 'International Festival of Racing' and, sadly, it no longer calls Arlington Park home, but Colonial Downs's Festival of Racing is set for Sunday afternoon, shoved back to Sunday when the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby tracked up the East Coast over the course of the last few days.
The featured GI Arlington Million has attracted field of six led by Godolphin's Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who makes his eighth North American appearance in career start number 18. Winner of the GI Saratoga Derby and GI Jockey Club Derby two seasons ago, the homebred proved easily best in last year's GI Canadian International Stakes, but is winless in two tries this term. Third to stablemate Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the GII Man O'War Stakes May 11 he exits a runner-up effort to the Appleby-trained Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the GI Manhattan Stakes at Saratoga June 8, and were that runner in here, he'd be strictly the one to beat.
Integration (Quality Road) can play the role of spoiler as he looks to win for the fourth time in as many local appearances. Victorious in last year's GIII Virginia Derby at career start two, the $700,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad could be given the benefit of the doubt for his first three tries in Grade I company this term, but he was reunited with Derby-winning pilot Kendrick Carmouche and most recently pummeled his rivals in the Million Preview Stakes in soft conditions July 13. He could find it similarly easy underfoot today, but would probably want a race that was run truly.
Ancient Rome (War Front) is one of two in the race for Jim and Fitri Hay and represents the Charlie Hills yard. A five-time winner while under the care of Andre Fabre, the dark bay handled the undulations at Kentucky Downs to take out last year's GIII Mint Millions Stakes and appears to be approaching something resembling his top form, having finished second in the G2 Summer Mile Stakes over the demanding straight course at Ascot July 13.
Talk of the Nation (Quality Road) gives his sire two in the race and tries the 10-furlong trip for the first time in his career. He has made his last eight starts at a mile, including a third in a paceless renewal of the GIII Poker Stakes at Saratoga June 8 and a tough runner-up effort to Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) when last seen in the July 13 GIII Kelso Stakes at the Spa.
Moira Primed For Beverly D., Secretariat Wide Open
Reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Moira (Ghostzapper) was given an option for a title defense of Saturday's GII Canadian Stakes at Woodbine, but swerves that test in favor of Sunday's GII Beverly D. Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Subsequently third to this race's 2023 winner Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) when pace-disadvantaged in the GI E.P. Taylor Stakes, Moira was a cracking third to Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Filly & Mare Turf before changing hands for $3 million at Fasig-Tipton November. She ventured south of the border for her 5-year-old debut in the GI Diana Stakes at Saratoga and was getting there late, but fell 3/4 of a length short of repeat scorer Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio).
Fev Rover does not appear to be in the same form as last year, as she is winless in three starts since the E.P. Taylor. Sixth in the GI New York Stakes June 7, she endured a tough trip when runner-up in the GII Nassau Stakes June 29, a race in which she defeated Moira by 4 1/4 clear-cut lengths in 2023.
There should be a scramble for favoritism in the GII Secretariat Stakes, where Brilliant Berti (Noble Mission {GB}) looks to make it four on the trot in his graded debut. He most recently came from midfield to down GIII Penn Mile Stakes hero First World War (War Front) by 2 1/4 lengths in the June 29 American Derby at Churchill Downs. Trikari (Oscar Performance) won the GII American Turf Stakes in May, prevailed narrowly in the GI Belmont Derby July 6 and was cross-entered for Sunday's Saratoga Derby. He looks likely to run here for Graham Motion. Mattingly (Bucchero) was meant to try this distance for the first time in the GIII Manila Stakes in late June, but was a race-day withdrawal. He stretches out off a series of turf-sprint stakes, including a better-than-it-looks third in the July 14 My Frenchman Stakes at Monmouth.
Grade Is Close The Card at Saratoga
Some eight days late, owing to a bunch of miserable weather, Saratoga stages the GI FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap and the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes.
The Fourstardave, a 'Win and You're In' race for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, goes with a field of six after reigning Mile champion Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) came out of the race earlier in the week.
'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler won the GII Hall of Fame Stakes and GIII Saranac Stakes in the summer of 2023 and most recently atoned for a below-par fifth in the GIII Poker Stakes with a very game defeat of Talk of the Nation in the GIII Kelso Stakes July 13.
“When he's on his game, he's a top-level horse and he seems to be rounding right back into form,” said trainer Chad Brown. “He's a very solid horse and I do think he's got another forward move in him at some point. I hope that's in this race.”
Master of the Seas has a very capable understudy in the form of Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who looks to make it three straight on this current U.S. visit. Just beaten when defending his title in the GII Fort Marcy Stakes May 4, the bay struck from close range in the June 1 Arlington Stakes and made all the running last time in the June 29 Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill.
More Than Looks (More Than Ready), third in the Hall of Fame, won the Jefferson Cup at Churchill last September and charged home to be sixth, but beaten just two lengths, in the Mile. He was meant to return to action against softer in the restricted Lure Stakes, but was scratched when the race was rained onto the main track.
“It is not an ideal 'Plan B' to come off such a long layoff into this spot,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said. “Ultimately, I think he obviously belongs with these horses, but it's a tough spot to return to the races. The goal is definitely to run him back in the Breeders' Cup Mile.”
Once it was repositioned, the Saratoga Derby lost one of its main draws when the connections of Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) decided not to wait around. In a field which now lacks a standout, Godolphin's Legend of Time (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) could prove the one to beat. Perfect from three starts in Dubai this winter, including the Listed Jumeirah Classic Mar. 2, the bay was a headstrong fifth in the American Turf, was up on the wire to win the GII Pennine Ridge Stakes May 25 and exits a third to Trikari in the Belmont Derby.
'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic (Liam's Map) won the GIII Gotham Stakes first off an August layoff and after finishing well-beaten in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes and GIII Peter Pan Stakes, switched to the turf to be second to Neat (Constitution) in the Manila Stakes. The latter returned to annex last Friday's GII Hall of Fame Stakes.
Carson's Run (Cupid), winner of last year's GI Summer Stakes at Woodbine, was fourth–placed fifth–in Aqueduct's Woodhaven Stakes Apr. 27 and exits a convincing three-length score in the June 23 Tale of the Cat Stakes at Monmouth Park.
White Sands Against Boys…Again…In Best Pal
Entered against her own sex in the GIII Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga and in this track's GIII Sorrento Stakes, White Sands (Into Mischief) will put her undefeated record on the line against four males in Sunday's GIII Best Pal Stakes.
The bay has won her two trips to the post by a combined 23 1/4 lengths, a 9 1/2-length romp to graduate first time out at Belterra Park May 25 ahead of a 13 3/4-length score versus males in the Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes in Iowa July 6.
“She is a good filly but we'll see how good she is now,” says Blake Heap, assistant to trainer Wesley Ward. “Wesley's not afraid of [running against the] boys with babies.”
Bob Baffert goes for a record 11th Best Pal with 'TDN Rising Star' Getaway Car (Curlin). A $700,000 Keeneland September purchase, the dark bay made all the running in his July 20 bow, pulling clear late to take it by 3 1/4 lengths.
If the pace collapses, Tiz Happy (Runhappy) and Mischief River (Into Mischief) could be in a position to pick up a slice.
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