Sword Dancer, Arlington Million top weekend of classy turf racing
Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Lots of top-level turf racing with a little seasoning of promising 2-year-olds makes up the menu for weekend horse racing.
Saturday's Grade I Sword Dancer on the Saratoga greensward is a "Win and You're In" for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf and anchors a Saturday card that also includes turf-running fillies and mares and sprinters.
The Grade I Arlington Million returns to the Colonial Downs turf along with the Beverly D and Secretariat Stakes.
The 2-year-olds start to stretch out a little on both coasts.
On the global scene, Royal Ascot runners Rebel's Romance and Lazzat return in Germany and France and, as usual, Aidan O'Brien runners look dominant as the Irish 2-year-old scene heats up.
Turf
Last year's Arlington Million winner, Nations Pride, has been through a rough patch since then, but returns to the scene of long-ago triumph in Saturday's $750,000 Grade I Sword Dancer at Saratoga, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Turf.
The 6-year-old Godolphin homebred went from the Million victory to finish 10th three months later in the Group 2 Bahrain International Trophy and bounced back to Gulfstream Park in January to finish ninth in the Grade I Pegasus World Cup Turf.
He won the Group 2 Singspiel Stakes in Dubai on March 1, but then was 10th in the Group 1 Dubai Turf.
His record at the Spa is much better. The son of Teofilo got his first top-level win in the 2022 Saratoga Derby and reported second behind stablemate Measured Time in the 2024 Manhattan Stakes.
The Sword Dancer drew a tough field, including last year's winner, Far Bridge, who captured three of his last four. Todd Pletcher saddles Rezeen and Ignacio "Nacho" Correas has Utah Beach, and all of them have been knocking on the door.
Speaking of the Arlington Million, Saturday's renewal at Colonial Downs drew a field of eight, with Integration, second in the Grade I Manhattan in his last start, as the morning-line favorite.
He also was second in the 2024 Million, behind Nations Pride. The sole international raider, Cairo, exits a third-place finish in the Group 1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.
The wrinkle in the Million sheets is 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, who gets his first opportunity on turf. He has just a single win from seven starts since his dramatic, three-way photo in Louisville, so a fresh start may be just the ticket.
On the Million undercard at Colonial, as it was for decades at Arlington Park, is Saturday's $500,000 Grade II Secretariat for 3-year-olds.
Filly & Mare Turf
Be Your Best is best on the morning line in a field of nine lining up for Friday's $300,000 Grade II Ballston Spa at Saratoga. The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee has won four of her last five starts, but has not raced since winning the Grade I Gamely at Santa Anita on May 26. She's cross-entered in the Grade II Beverly D at Colonial Downs.
Be Your Best also tops the morning line for the Beverly D, transplanted along with the Arlington Million to Colonial Downs. Should the Muhaarar filly opt to stay in New York, the Virginia heat would look like a really ripe spot for South African import Beach Bomb, who just missed to the super She Feels Pretty in the Grade I New York Stakes at Saratoga last time out.
Go Go Boots, last seen a competitive fourth in the Group 2 Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot for owner Bobby Flay, gets her first North American start in Saturday's $500,000 Grade II Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks.
The Night of Thunder filly has been handed off from John and Thady Gosden to Miguel Clement. Laurelin enters undefeated after four starts but steps up in class. Opulent Restraint was a narrowly defeated third in the Grade I Belmont Oaks in her last start.
Eight signed on for Saturday's $200,000 Grade II Yellow Ribbon at Del Mar at 1 1/16 miles on the lawn. All have been graded stakes placed and most have won at that level. The closest thing to consistency, however, is the record of Musical Rhapsody, who has finished in the top three in all but one of her last seven starts.
Turf Sprint
Already in the books: Pop Idol led gate-to-wire in Thursday's $150,000 Galway for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga. The Maclean's Music filly, trained by George Weaver, finished the 5 1/2 furlongs on firm going in 1:02.13, winning for the third time in her last four starts.
Governor Sam is the even-money favorite in a field of nine for Sunday's $175,000 Grade III Mahony for 3-year-olds at Saratoga.
Dirt Mile / Sprint
Admiral Dennis is the 8-5 morning-line favorite among eight set for Sunday's $300,000 Ellis Park Derby. Older horses go 7 furlongs on the same Ellis Park program in the $200,000 R.A. "Cowboy" Jones Stakes.
Distaff / Filly & Mare Sprint
Alpine Princess, coming from a win at Horseshoe Indianapolis, is a slight favorite in a competitive field of nine for Sunday's $200,000, 1-mile Groupie Doll at Ellis Park.
In the $200,000 Audubon Oaks at the same 7 furlongs on the same program, Vodka With a Twist, second in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, looks for redemption after a sixth-place showing in the local Pea Patch Stakes.
Juvenile
With less than three months to go to their biggest test in the Breeders' Cup, it's time to start paying serious attention to the 2-year-olds.
Doug O'Neill has three and Bob Baffert two in Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Best Pal at Del Mar -- and that's the whole field. None has starred. Any could shine.
Comport is the even-money favorite in a field of six set for Sunday's $200,000 Ellis Park Juvenile at 7 furlongs. The Eddie Kenneally trainee was second in the Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs earlier.
Juvenile Fillies
Sunday's $150,000 Grade 3 Sorrento at Del Mar has a field of six featuring Himika, the likely favorite off a career-first race that produced a 6-lengths victory that could have been more. Baffert trains.
Kingsolver and Chopsticks headline in a field of six for Sunday's $200,000 Ellis Park Debutante.
Around the world, around the clock
Ireland
Gstaad is the star in a three-horse Coolmore package that makes up half the field for Saturday's Group 1 Phoenix Stakes for 2-year-olds at the Curragh. The Starspangledbanner colt is 2-for-2 and won the Group 2 Coventry at Royal Ascot by 3 lengths. True Love and Puerto Rico complete the team.
France
Last year's winner, Lazzat, tops the entries for Sunday's Group 1 Maurice de Gheest, 1,300 meters at Deauville. The 4-year-old, now toting the colors of Wathnan Racing, was a brave winner in his last race of the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, holding off Japanese star Satono Reve through the final strides.
Germany
Rebel's Romance returns from his third-place finish in the Group 1 King George at Ascot to face five rivals in Sunday's Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin, 2,400 meters at Berlin Hoppegarten. Pay attention.
The now-7-year-old Godolphin globetrotter used wins in Germany as a springboard to Breeders' Cup victories in 2022 and 2024 and has shown with three wins from five runs this season that he still has plenty of punch left.
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UPI
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Big weekend for Godolphin on turf points to Breeders' Cup
1 of 5 | El Cordobes wins Saturday's Grade I Sword Dancer at Saratoga, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Turf. Photo by Coglianese Photography, courtesy of NYRA Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Godolphin had a huge weekend on the turf with victories in the Grade I Sword Dancer at Saratoga and the Grosser Preis von Berlin in Germany while some promising 2-year-olds were on display at Del Mar. The Godolphin winners, El Cordobes in New York and Rebel's Romance in Deutschland, easily could be on a collision course. The Sword Dancer was a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Turf. Rebel's Romance twice has used a Group 1 win in Germany to warm up for a victory in that same race and is headed back to try for the three-peat. There's lots more. Read on. Turf Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby resumed their winning ways in New York in Saturday's $175,000 Grade I Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga as El Cordobes came with a late rush under Flavien Prat to win by 1/2 length over long shot Rebel Red. Another Godolphin runner, Nations Pride, finished third and the favorite, Far Bridge, weakened late to report sixth. El Cordobes, a 4-year-old Frankel gelding, came to New York from a victory in the Group 2 Kingdom of Bahrain Princess of Wales's Stakes last month at Newmarket. He has risen rapidly through the ranks this year, starting in handicaps in Dubai in January and now holds a "Win and You're In" ticket to the Breeders' Cup Turf. Godolphin and Appleby have won that three of the last four years. "The way he ran there, you'd Almost say he'll keep on improving," said Chris Connett, assistant to winning trainer Charlie Appleby. Fort Washington, last of seven through the first half of the race, rallied through the stretch to win Saturday's Grade I Arlington Million at Colonial Downs by 1/2 length over Grand Sonata. The favorite, Integration, put a head in front during the closing stages but settled for third, another 3/4 length back of the winner. The 2024 Kentucky Derby winner, Mystik Dan, ran well enough in his first start on turf to finish fourth. Winning trainer Shug McGaughey, who's not in the habit of letting his enthusiasm overwhelm him, said of any Breeders' Cup plans, "That's a little ambitious. But we'll kind of see. I mean, it's a nice thought. But it might be a little ambitious." Also: On the Million undercard, Giocoso returned from a three-months break to win Saturday's $500,000 Grade II Secretariat Stakes for 3-year-olds at Colonial Downs by 1 length; and Air Recruit, the odds-on favorite, was just up in time to win Sunday's $100,000 Oceanport Stakes at Monmouth Park by a nose. Filly & Mare Turf Laurelin had no trouble putting her undefeated record on the line while stepping up to graded stakes company for the first time in Saturday's $500,000 Grade II Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational. Held off the pace by jockey Kendrick Carmouche, the Irish-bred Zarak miss fired like a rocket in the stretch and ran on to win by 1 3/4 lengths, going away. Charlene's Dream jumped right to the front in Saturday's $500,000 Grade II Beverly D at Colonial Downs, turned back a stout challenge from Be Your Best and ran on to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Spanish Eyes. Be Your Best held third. Heredia took the lead right out of the gate in Saturday's $200,000 Grade II Yellow Ribbon at Del Mar and held the advantage through the whole 1 1/16 miles before winning by 2 1/4 lengths over Public Assembly. Ozara rallied from a stalking position to claim Friday's $300,000 Grade II Ballston Spa at Saratoga by 1 1/2 lengths over fellow closer Deep Satin. 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Yahoo
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Stewards Statement: Saratoga Race At Wrong Distance Due To Incorrect Gate Placement
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Yahoo
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'We Don't Have To Be In A Hurry': Shug McGaughey Weighs Options For Fort Washington
'We Don't Have To Be In A Hurry': Shug McGaughey Weighs Options For Fort Washington originally appeared on Paulick Report. With his win in Saturday's $1-million Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs, Fort Washington has plenty of options for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey and owner Magic Cap Stables. The 6-year-old War Front dark bay had won multiple Grade 3s, but never a top-level event having only made one prior attempt. On Saturday, Fort Washington traveled in last-of-7 early under Junior Alvarado and tipped out wide to rally to a half-length victory over Grand Sonata, completing the 1 1/4 miles on firm turf in 1:59.58. Stablemate Integration was a 1 1/4-length third. 'He seems to have come out of it fine. He got back here [to Saratoga] early this morning, both of them did,' said McGaughey. 'I thought he ran a great race. I had been watching the races all day and it looked like it was speed-favoring and he was back, but Junior rode a great race. He saved ground and when it was time to tip him out, he was able to run the horse on the lead down. 'I thought Integration, maybe the turf was a little firm for him. I'll give him a little bit of a break and bring him back in the fall at Aqueduct or something,' McGaughey added. McGaughey said Fort Washington, who improved to 3-for-5 on the year, has a variety of potential next races, including the $1.25-million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) on October 4 at Keeneland and the Red Smith (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack, which Integration won last year and is annually held in November. 'Keeneland should be an option, but you know they have the Red Smith at Aqueduct, so we'll have options,' said McGaughey. 'For now, we got done what we wanted to get done, we don't have to be in a hurry.' Of trying to get to the Breeders' Cup in November at Del Mar, McGaughey said, 'That's a little ambitious, but we'll kind of see. I mean, it is a nice thought, but it might be a little ambitious.' McGaughey confirmed Integration also exited in good order, but will get a break after a hard-knocking annual campaign that has featured four placings in five Grade 1 starts. 'Same thing, he came back here, but I think he needs a bit of a break. I haven't talked to [jockey] Johnny Velazquez yet, but he thought the turf was just a little firm for him,' McGaughey said. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
