Fort Washington seeks Arlington Million repeat * The Racing Biz

Fort Washington seeks Arlington Million repeat

Burnham Square is leading challenger

Press Release
July 25, 2026

The stage is set for one of the summer’s most compelling turf showdowns as Burnham Square takes aim at defending champion Fort Washington in the Grade 1 Arlington Million, the centerpiece of Colonial Downs’ Festival of Racing on Saturday, Aug. 1.

A field of eight older horses has been entered for the 1¼-mile Arlington Million, which is scheduled as Race 11 and is the penultimate the Festival of Racing program. The Grade 1 feature headlines an eight-stakes program worth $2.6 million and is joined by the Grade 2 $500,000 Beverly D. for older fillies and mares and the Grade 2 $500,000 Secretariat for 3-year-olds. All three graded stakes will be contested on the turf course.

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Burnham Square enters the Arlington Million as one of the nation’s hottest turf performers. Owned by Whitham Thoroughbreds and trained by Ian Wilkes, the son of Liam’s Map has blossomed since moving to the turf after his 2025 Triple Crown campaign, which included a victory in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes and a sixth-place finish in Kentucky Derby 151. With more than $2.2 million in earnings, Burnham Square has reeled off victories in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes, Grade 3 Louisville Stakes and the Listed Chorleywood Stakes to establish himself among the division’s elite. Regular rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. is named to ride the 4-year-old, who drew post 5.

*Fort Washington prevailed by a half-length in the Grade 1 Arlington Million. Photo by Allison Janezic.*

Waiting to deny the up-and-coming challenger is Fort Washington, who returns to defend the title he captured last year. Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey for Magic Cap Stables, the veteran gelding has shown he remains at the top of his game, adding the Grade 3 Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico to his resume this season. Javier Castellano will ride from post 3.

McGaughey also enters multiple graded stakes winner Integration, who ran second to his stablemate in last year’s edition. Integration has remained a fixture in elite turf company since capturing the 2023 Grade 3 Virginia Derby when it was still a turf race. John Velazquez has the call and the pair will depart from post 4.

Dual Grade 1 winner Test Score looms as a major threat to the Million headliners. The Graham Motion trainee’s resume includes victories in the 2026 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park and the 2025 Belmont Derby Invitational. He most recently finished a second beaten a head in the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes at Saratoga. Drawing post 6, he will have the services of Manny Franco.

Multiple Grade 3 winner Dresden Row enters the Million in sharp form for trainer Todd Pletcher. After dominating successive allowance races this spring at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, the 5-year-old finished third in the Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes. Tyler Gaffalione has the call from the rail.

Completing the field are millionaire Mercante, who arrives in strong form after finishing second in the Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill Downs for trainer Brian Knippenberg; Gran Oriente (CHI), who is seeking his third consecutive stakes victory for Saffie Joseph Jr.; and Grade 3 winner Layabout for trainer Patrick Biancone.

In addition to the graded stakes trio, Festival Day will feature five additional stakes: the $100,000 Reigh Count, a seven-furlong dirt race for older horses; the $100,000 Petramalo Mile, a one-mile dirt race for 3-year-olds; the $100,000 Tyson Gilpin, a seven-furlong dirt race for 3-year-old fillies; the $150,000 Van Clief for 3-year-olds and up at 5½ furlongs on turf; and its distaff companion, the $150,000 Andy Guest.

First post for the 12-race program is scheduled for noon ET and tickets for the Colonial Downs Festival of Racing are available at www.colonialdowns.com.

Here is the complete field for the Arlington Million (G1), from the rail out, with jockeys and trainers: