Arlington Million 2023: Odds, free PPs, stakes schedule, more

Far away from its Chicagoland roots, the Arlington Million starts a new chapter Saturday in Virginia.

Atone is the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the Grade 1, $1 million Arlington Million, which will run for the first time at Colonial Downs. Post time is 6:40 p.m. EDT, with FanDuel TV showing the 1 1/4-mile turf stakes.

Churchill Downs, Inc., the company that owns Colonial Downs, also owned the now-shuttered Arlington Park. The race was run for the last time at Arlington in 2021, moved to Churchill Downs last year at a shortened 1 1/8-mile distance, and has now been shifted east to New Kent County, Va.

Atone took a Grade 1 race to start the 2023 season, winning the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) by 3/4 of a length for trainer Mike Maker. He has been off the board in his two subsequent starts, including a fifth-place finish May 20 at Pimlico in the Dinner Party Stakes (G3).

A son of Into Mischief, Atone owns a 25: 7-4-4 record with nearly $1.19 million earned. Jockey Kendrick Carmouche will ride the 6-year-old gelding, who is owned by Three Diamonds Farm.

Rockemperor (5-1), winner of the 2021 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1), aims to give trainer Chad Brown a fifth Arlington Million score. He was ninth June 10 on the Belmont Stakes undercard in the Manhattan Stakes (G1).

Never Explain (6-1) won the Dinner Party Stakes three starts back on the Preakness undercard. In his last start, the Shug McGaughey trainee was third July 30 at Saratoga in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2).

Set Piece (6-1) won the Arlington Stakes (G3) two starts ago at Churchill for trainer Brad Cox. He was then third July 1 at Ellis Park in the Wise Dan Stakes (G2).

Santin (8-1) won Churchill’s version of the Arlington Million last summer, one of two Grade 1 wins on his ledger for trainer Brendan Walsh. He has been off the board in each of his last six races, including a fourth-place effort July 2 at Ellis in the Hanshin Stakes.

Here is a look at the field for the 2023 Arlington Million (trainers and jockeys in parentheses) with morning-line odds:

1. Strong Tide (Michael Lauer, Horacio Karamanos), 15-1

2. Never Explain (Shug McGaughey, Vincent Cheminaud), 6-1

3. Set Piece (Brad Cox, Florent Geroux), 6-1

4. Atone (Mike Maker, Kendrick Carmouche), 7-2

5. Rockemperor (Chad Brown, John Velazquez), 5-1

6. Master Piece (Rick Dutrow, Jose Lezcano), 12-1

7. Strong Quality (Mark Casse, Javier Castellano), 12-1

8. Catnip (Mike Stidham, Brian Hernandez Jr.), 8-1

9. Adhamo (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat), 10-1

10. Win for the Money (Mark Casse, Jorge Ruiz), 20-1

11. Santin (Brendan Walsh, Tyler Gaffalione), 8-1

TimeformUS pace projections show Strong Quality going out to the lead under jockey Javier Castellano and setting a fast pace. Favorite Atone is projected to sit just off the early speed.

Visit Horse Racing Nation’s free past performances page for more information on Saturday’s graded stakes at Colonial Downs and Saratoga.

Other Saturday stakes

Here is a look at other graded stakes taking place Saturday across the U.S. All post times are EDT.

5:06 p.m. – $200,000 Saratoga Special Stakes (G2), 2-year-olds, 6 1/2 furlongs, Saratoga, Fox

Rhyme Schemes (4-5) has garnered odds-on favoritism off a commanding 9 1/2-length win in his second maiden start June 15 at Ellis Park. Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. rides the Ghostzapper colt for trainer Norm Casse. Todd Pletcher trains Haul (3-1), a debut winner by three lengths July 9 at Belmont Park. Edified (7-2) also enters off a first-out win, his coming July 1 at Ellis by 3 1/2 lengths for trainer Steve Asmussen.

5:14 p.m. – $500,000 Secretariat Stakes (G2), 3-year-olds, one mile (turf), Colonial Downs, FanDuel TV

Nagirroc (5-2), a Grade 3 victor, won a stakes race on the Preakness undercard two starts back before running third July 7 at Belmont in the Manila Stakes (G3). Jockey Flavien Prat is in Virginia and will ride the Lea colt for trainer Graham Motion. Charlie Appleby (3-1) trains Silver Knott (3-1), a Group 3 winner in the U.K. who settled for fifth July 8 in the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1). The Vicki Oliver-trained Mo Stash (5-1), another Grade 3 victor, was runner-up July 1 at Ellis Park in the American Derby – a race that, like the Secretariat Stakes, used to be run at Arlington Park.

5:44 p.m. – $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (G1), 3-and-up, one mile (turf), Saratoga, Fox

Casa Creed (7-5), a three-time Grade 1 winner, aims to repeat his 2022 Fourstardave score and punch a Breeders’ Cup Mile “win and you’re in” ticket. Trainer Bill Mott and jockey Luis Saez team up with the 7-year-old son of Jimmy Creed, winner of the local Kelso Stakes (G3) on July 15. Pletcher trains Annapolis (8-5), a Grade 1 winner who was second to Casa Creed in the one-mile Kelso by a length. Emmanuel (3-1), a second Pletcher entry, won the Poker Stakes (G3) on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 10.

5:55 p.m. – $500,000 Beverly D. Stakes (G1), 3-and-up fillies and mares, 1 3/16 miles (turf), Colonial Downs, FanDuel TV

Fev Rover (2-1) has won two Grade 2 stakes since coming to North America and takes another shot at Grade 1 laurels after running third July 15 at Saratoga in the Diana Stakes (G1). Jockey Javier Castellano will get a leg up on the 5-year-old Gutaifan mare for trainer Mark Casse in this Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf qualifier. Ignacio Correas IV trains Didia (3-1), a Group 1 winner in Argentina whose seven-race win streak was snapped June 9 when second at Belmont in the New York Stakes (G1). Romagna Mia (4-1), a Group 2 victor in Italy, makes her U.S. bow for Motion off a fourth-place finish July 10 in a stakes race in France.

7:45 p.m. – $200,000 Sorrento Stakes (G3), 2-year-old fillies, six furlongs, Del Mar, FanDuel TV

Benedetta (2-1) won on debut July 8 for trainer Simon Callaghan, backing up 7-10 favoritism in a maiden race at Los Alamitos. Jockey Victor Espinoza takes over the mount on the City of Light filly. Bob Baffert trains Dua (5-2), whose debut victory came July 22 at Del Mar. Dreamfyre (3-1) became a first-out winner July 9 at Pleasanton in Northern California, taking the Everett Nevin Stakes for trainer O. J. Jauregui.

9:15 p.m. – $250,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2), 3-and-up fillies and mares, 1 1/16 miles (turf), Del Mar, FanDuel TV

Closing Remarks (5-2), a Grade 2 winner for trainer Carla Gaines, finished sixth last out May 29 at Santa Anita in the Gamely Stakes (G1). Jockey Umberto Rispoli gets the call on the 5-year-old Vronsky mare. Phil D’Amato trains School Dance (3-1), who was last of seven in the Gamely. Awake At Midnyte (4-1) steps up in class for trainer Doug O’Neill after running second July 22 in the local Osunitas Stakes.