TIME SONG LOOMS A MAJOR PACE PRESENCE IN GRADE 1 ARLINGTON MILLION

NEW KENT, Va. (Aug. 8, 2025) – Making his fourth start since being transferred to Jonathan Thomas’ barn, Baron Racing Stables’ Time Song looks to be a major pace presence in Saturday’s Grade 1 Arlington Million at Colonial Downs which drew a field of eight older males.

“He’s been a solid horse,” Thomas said. “We’ve had a couple opportunities to stretch him out and it seems to agree with him. Obviously this is a very ambitious spot but he’s doing well.”

Leading through every call except the last, the 4-year-old by Not This Time was run down late in the 1¾ miles San Juan Capistrano (G2) at Del Mar. The same story goes for his more recent run in a 1⅜ miles allowance. Time Song will look to dial it in going 1¼ miles in the Million, which attracted a field of eight.

“He should have won the (allowance) at Santa Anita,” Thomas said. “I thought if he had opened up a little bit earlier, he would have won. The pace dynamics (in the Million) will be interesting. I don’t know that anyone is quicker than him in the first couple jumps.”

Drawing in post 2 immediately to the outside of Mystik Dan but inside of Runaway Storm, both potential threats to steal to the front, Time Song will be piloted by Luis Saez.

“Not that (Time Song) is free-running, but he likes to get out there and get a high gallop, so we’re not going to get in his way,” Thomas said. “I think Saez will really suit him.”

This is the first year that Thomas has brought a string to Colonial Downs and the barn has five in-the-money finishes from eight starts, including one win.

“Overall the horses are running well,” Thomas said. “Looking at this new book we’re going to have a couple horses cycling back into some good spots. It’s been fun. We’re learning the place.”

The Arlington Million is scheduled as race 11 of 12 on Saturday’s Festival of Racing program.

LEADING JOCKEY BEN CURTIS DISCUSSES FESTIVAL OF RACING DAY GRADED STAKES MOUNTS

Colonial Downs’ reigning titleholder and current meet-leading jockey, Ben Curtis is well-suited for a big Festival of Racing Day with calls in each of Saturday’s three graded stakes.

In the Grade 1 Arlington Million, Curtis will get a leg up on Refai Alghraiban’s Irish-bred Cairo. Trained by Alice Haynes, the 5-year-old horse by Quality Road was made 7-2 in the morning line.

“I had a sit on him the other day and he floated around the turf when we were letting him stretch his legs,” Curtis said. “Alice is delighted with the way he’s going at the moment. Tactically he’s very versatile. I’ll let him jump away, find a nice rhythm, and take it from there.”

Curtis has the call on Qatar Racing and Michaela Faust’s German-bred filly Spanish Eyes in the 1 3/16 miles $500,000 Grade 2 Beverly D. for older fillies and mares. The Brendan Walsh trained 4-year-old will be making her third start in the United States.

“I thought she ran a solid race the last (start) at Delaware (Park),” Curtis said. “I didn’t get any run out of her when I rode her in her first start in America. She was trapped behind horses and I looked out for her. The way the track is here, it’s a big, galloping track. I think that will play to her strengths.”

Facing a field of eight 3-year-old males in the $500,000 Grade 2 Secretariat, Rocker O Ranch’s Giocoso will be reunited with Curtis, who rode him four-lengths shy of Zulu Kingdom last out in the American Turf (G1) on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Giocoso is trained by Keith Desormeaux.

“We broke from the outside and had a wide run that day,” Curtis said. “I had to give away a little bit of ground. I thought he came home very well and ran a solid race. I think that kind of form will put him right in the mix. Keith is very happy with the way he’s been training. He’s versatile. In a race that lacks speed, being able to put him anywhere is very advantageous.”

At the end of Thursday’s races, Curtis tallies 19 wins from 76 mounts (26%), two more than Paco Lopez.

Slated as race 9, the Secretariat kicks off an all-graded stakes Pick 3 that concludes with the Arlington Million. With 12 races carded, first post for the Festival of Racing Program is noon ET.

Tickets for the Colonial Downs Festival of Racing can be purchased at www.colonialdowns.com.