Weekend Lineup: Turf Marathoners In The Spotlight
The turf male division could get shaken up this weekend as some of its best runners go to post in the 1 ¼-mile Grade 1 Arlington Million at Colonial Downs and the 1 ½-mile G1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga on Aug. 9.Joining the Arlington Million are six other turf stakes, highlighted by fillies and mares running 1 3/16 miles in the G2 Beverly D, and 3-year-olds going a mile in the G2 Secretariat.The G1 Sword Dancer has attracted nine runners, with the winner receiving a berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar in November.Classic season is well underway in Canada, and the 1 1/16-mile Bison City, the second leg of Woodbine's Triple Tiara series, will be run on Saturday on the main track.
Saturday5:02 pm - Bison City Stakes at WoodbineD.J. Stable's Mark Casse trainees Shifty and Winterberry are the ones to beat in the Bison City. Shifty and Winterberry were second and third, respectively, in the Woodbine Oaks three weeks ago behind fellow Casse runner No Time, who runs in next weekend's King's Plate.Bison City entries
5:44 pm - G1 Sword Dancer at SaratogaLSU Stable's Far Bridge will need to beat eight rivals to defend his title in the Sword Dancer. The Miguel Clement trainee was much the best in the G2 Bowling Green last out.The son of English Channel's biggest threats appears to be the Godolphin pair of Nations Pride and El Cordobes. Nations Pride makes his first start since a 10th in the G1 Dubai Turf in April, while El Cordobes makes his U.S. debut off a G2 win at Newmarket.Sword Dancer entries
5:54 pm - G1 Arlington Million at Colonial DownsKentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan makes his turf debut in a wide-open edition of the Arlington Million. The morning-line favorite is last year's Million runner-up Integration, who won the 2023 Virginia Derby over this turf course.Cairo, third last-out in Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Anne, makes his U.S. debut in the Million for trainer Alice Haynes.Arlington Million entries
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
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