Fort Washington Flies Late To Steal Grade 1 Arlington Million

NEW KENT, Va. (Aug. 9, 2025) –Magic Cap Stables’ Fort Washington saved his best for last, unleashing a powerful late kick and seizing the lead in the last jumps of the Grade 1 Arlington Million on Festival of Racing Day at Colonial Downs.

Trained by Shug McCaughey, Fort Washington outfinished Grand Sonata by half a length, while his stablemate Integration, who was in the mix until the final stages, finished third. Ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado, Fort Washington stopped the clock in 1:59.58 for the 1¼ miles over a firm turf course.

Settling in the rear of the field of seven, Fort Washington waited patiently as Time Song led the way, speeding through sharp opening calls of :23.94 and :48.36. Mystik Dan and Runaway Storm rated in second and third until entering the far turn when Integration began advancing on their outside and both had to quicken. As Grand Sonata hugged the rail to rally, Fort Washington built his momentum widest of all down the stretch. Integration and Grand Sonata emerged in front with a furlong to go, but Fort Washington outkicked the duo home. Mystik Dan stayed on for fourth.

“I wanted to make sure he got comfortable,” Alvarado said. “He’s a tricky horse to ride sometimes. When he’s at his best, you know it right away. Today I felt that going into the first turn. I wanted to make sure I saved enough ground so that I had a big punch at the end. When I swung out in the clearing he finished up very strong. My horse has a powerful turn of foot.”

Sent off at 5-1, Fort Washington paid $13.40, $6.00, and $3.00. A newly minted millionaire, Fort Washington’s lifetime earnings now total $1,352,182 from a career record of 28-7-3-8 that now includes four graded stakes wins.

The 6-year-old horse by War Front was bred in Kentucky by Joseph Allen, LLC & White Birch Farm, Inc.

Additional Quotes

John Velazquez, jockey of third-place finisher Integration: “I think the track was a little bit hard for him. I think he likes a little more give to it. He didn’t have it today.”

Brian Hernandez Jr., jockey of fourth-place finisher Mystik Dan: “He was in a great spot turning for home, they just outpunched him. Turning for home I had Integration right there and I thought we could get it done. He quickened but with grass horses like he ran against today, it’s a different turn of foot. He handled the grass fine but he just didn’t travel in my hands like I’d like him to on the backside today.”

Ben Curtis, jockey of fifth-place finisher Cairo: “I couldn’t be happier with the horse. He was only beaten a couple of lengths. I thought at the top of the lane, we’d win. Sometimes it takes a race to acclimatize to American racing. The tracks are different. His next stop is Kentucky Downs and he’ll love it there. When everyone quickened out of the gates, he didn’t have that initial kick. I was planning on being in front of Integration. But he was in a perfect spot so I wasn’t going to swap it. His first run in America, he ran fantastic. He’s going to take a step forward from it and he’s going to prefer the track next time.”

About Colonial Downs
Colonial Downs Racetrack, in New Kent, Virginia, hosts live thoroughbred racing on two nationally renowned surfaces – the Secretariat Turf Course, the widest turf course in North America at 180 feet wide and on a 1 1/4-mile dirt track. The Colonial Downs Group, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums® throughout the commonwealth, which offer innovative historic horseracing (HHR) gaming and full card simulcasting as well as Rosie’s Game Room in Collinsville, and The Rose Gaming Resort® in Dumfries which offers 1,650 HHR gaming terminals, full-card simulcasting, eight bars and restaurants and more than 100 hotel rooms.