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Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
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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.
UPI
3 days ago
- Sport
- UPI
Sword Dancer, Arlington Million top weekend of classy turf racing
1 of 4 | Integration, shown winning the 2024 Red Smith at Aqueduct, is the favorite in Saturday's Grade I Arlington Million at Colonial Downs. Photo by Susie Raisher/Coglianese Photography, courtesy of NYRA 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.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Weekend Lineup: Turf Marathoners In The Spotlight
Weekend Lineup: Turf Marathoners In The Spotlight originally appeared on Paulick Report. 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. 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 G1 Sword Dancer has attracted nine runners, with the winner receiving a berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar in 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 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 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 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 third last-out in Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Anne, makes his U.S. debut in the Million for trainer Alice Million entries This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Seasoned Traveler' Cairo Trains On Colonial Turf For Arlington Million
'Seasoned Traveler' Cairo Trains On Colonial Turf For Arlington Million originally appeared on Paulick Report. After arriving at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., on Sunday, Refai Alghraiban's classy globetrotter Cairo was on the track Aug. 6 ahead of his run in Saturday's Grade 1 Arlington Million on Festival of Racing Day (Aug. 9). Trainer Alice Haynes was on hand for the Irish-bred's move over the turf course.'He's fit coming here,' Haynes said. 'We just gave him a two-furlong blow and let him have a look at the track so he's all set for Saturday.'Having raced at top tracks across Ireland and England, Meydan in Dubai, and Sha Tin in Hong Kong, the Million will be Cairo's first start in the United States.'We took off from England, landed at JFK and quarantined there before (coming to Colonial Downs),' Haynes said. 'He's a seasoned traveler–he loves it. Another stamp for his passport.' Exiting an impressive third last out in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot on June 17, Cairo has made six starts since Dec. 20, 2024, when he finished second in the Al Rashidiya (G2), one of four events he participated in over the winter at in Ireland by Coolmore, Cairo banged out three wins in his first five starts. The 5-year-old's career record includes six group placings and a win in the 2022 Killavullan Stakes (G3).Going 1¼ miles over the turf, the Arlington Million attracted a field of eight older males. Made 7-2 in the morning line, Cairo will take on an accomplished group, which includes last year's Million runner-up, Integration; Mystik Dan, whose resume includes a win in Kentucky Derby 150 and $4,467,120 lifetime earnings; and multiple graded stakes winner Grand Sonata who has amassed $2,244,935 in lifetime earnings for trainer Todd Pletcher.'Look, you've got the Kentucky Derby winner who has never been on the turf, so you never know,' Haynes said. 'The favorite, Integration, looks a tough one to beat but we're here to take our chance.' Known for putting himself into the race soon out of the gate, in the Queen Anne Cairo waited patiently near the rear before making one run.'It looks like there will be a nice pace set, so we'll plan to sit behind the leaders,' Haynes Downs' reigning titleholder and current meet-leading jockey Ben Curtis takes the call and will guide Cairo from post 5. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Powys County Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Arlington Million trip with Cairo has Haynes in dreamland
Alice Haynes hopes Cairo can continue riding on the coattails of his brilliant third at Royal Ascot when challenging for the Arlington Million on Saturday. The five-year-old son of American multiple Grade One winner Quality Road will be making a maiden trip Stateside for the historic mile-and-a-quarter contest, which is now held at Colonial Downs. Cairo – who was behind only then-stablemate Paddington in the Irish 2,000 Guineas when trained by Aidan O'Brien – was best of the rest at 100-1 as Docklands narrowly defeated Rosallion in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting. Having already faced high-calibre fields this season, Cairo will add to that list by taking on 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in Virginia. 'Going into Royal Ascot, I did feel the horse was as well as we've ever had him,' Haynes told her yard sponsor, Coral. 'He was absolutely flying at home so I had high hopes he would run a big race, but even so, to finish third in a field of that quality did surprise me, in the best possible way obviously! 'I'd always thought that coming to America would suit him, and having discussed it with the owner, going into Ascot we very much had it in our minds. 'He still needed to run a big race at Ascot to make the trip viable, but of course he produced that big run. 'The team from Colonial Downs were at the track that day and chatting to them after the Queen Anne really did make up our mind to come here.' Haynes has now set her sights on rewarding her stable star, who arrived in New York last week before an eight-hour journey to Virginia, with a couple of lucrative races in the United States before returning home. 'He's an old pro now when it comes to travelling, so he's taken it all in his stride and acclimatised well,' Haynes added. 'The temperature is cooler than it was here last week apparently so while it's still warm, it's more comfortable for him now. 'He had a couple of canters on the dirt when he first got here and his latest piece of work has been on the turf, under his big-race pilot Ben Curtis. 'Ben actually contacted us when he saw we were running the horse over here and I think he will be a really good fit for the horse. 'He's obviously got plenty of experience riding European horses, but he's been in America long enough now to have the local knowledge as well, which I think could be really important in a race like this. 'We're under no illusions about the task we face though, and realistically, finishing in the first three would be a tremendous achievement. 'The plan after this weekend is to send him down to Keeneland to be based with Ed Vaughan and aim him at a richly-endowed race at Kentucky Downs. 'It is just so exciting to be involved in a big international race like this, it really is what we have worked so hard to achieve.'
