American racing is largely focused on three-year-olds. But today’s Grade 1 Arlington Million provided a timely reminder that some horses that aren’t much at three mature later into something very special, indeed.

Fort Washington, who didn’t win a graded stake until he hit age 5 last year, came flying late on the outside to win the Million by a half-length to secure his first Grade 1 victory, and the first Grade 1 triumph for his owner, Joe Anzalone’s Magic Cap Stables.

“He’s six, but he only found himself at maybe 5 ½,” Anzalone said. “He was just lost for the longest time.”

It was, Anzalone said, worth the wait.

“It’s just an unbelievable experience,” he said. “I’m on Cloud 9. I’m gonna keep going all night until my flight leaves.”

The win was Fort Washington’s third in four starts, all in graded company. He previously won the Grade 3 Canadian Turf at Gulfstream Park and then, in May, the Grade 3 Dinner Party at Pimlico.

Speaking of which, Arlington Million day was also a banner day for Pimlico. The winners of the Van Clief, Beverly D., and Million all had won at Old Hilltop in May.

After a tough trip led to a middling outcome for Fort Washington in the Grade 2 Wise Dan, the Million initially wasn’t on the table. Trainer Shug McGaughey, Anzalone said, was eyeballing a trip to Kentucky Downs, where even the overnight races have crazy-large purses.

“But I guess he worked so well, he just didn’t give Shug the choice,” Anzalone said. Fort Washington posted three works between the June 28 Wise Dan and today’s race, two on the turf at Saratoga.

The Million seemed to run through Integration, Fort Washington’s stablemate who had finished second in four prior Grade 1 events but had not yet earned a signature triumph. He went off at 3-5 but was forced to settle for third.

In the early going, it was Time Song who set the tempo, ticking off a measured half-mile in 48.36 seconds and three quarters in 1:12.25. He still led by two lengths after a mile in a moderate 1:36 flat.

Fort Washington, meanwhile, was in last at that point, five lengths behind the leader. But jockey Junior Alvarado – “He’s so good, and he loves this horse,” Anzalone said – managed to save ground for almost the entire trip until tipping out wide nearing the quarter-pole for clear sailing.

“Sometimes it just matters about getting your horse into a good rhythm,” Alvarado said. “I was last but he was traveling beautiful. I knew what I had the whole time.”

Produced widest of all, Fort Washington came flying late, zipping the final quarter-mile in less than 23 seconds to prevail by a half-length over Grand Sonata, who closed along the rail. Integration, who had his head in front in mid-stretch, settled for third. Running time for 1 1/4 miles on firm turf was 1:59.58.

“When I turned for home, I said, like, they’re gonna be in trouble because they were just starting to pick it up, and I knew what I had underneath me,” Alvarado explained. “He has such a powerful turn of foot, and he showed it today.”

“I said he had a shot, and then I thought I was going to get beat by the rail [horse, Grand Sonata],” Anzalone said. “But he had enough.”

Fort Washington’s win continued a banner year for his rider. The win was Alvarado’s 10th graded victory of the year and fourth in Grade 1 company. He won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont aboard Sovereignty, who likely will be back for more in the Travers, and Alvarado is on pace to shatter his best previous earnings.

“It’s been a thrill. It’s been one of those years that you always dream, but it’s really hard to think it can happen,” Alvarado said. “But it’s actually happening to me this year, and I just thank God for it.”

Fort Washington paid $13.40 to win and topped an exacta worth $44.00 on a one-dollar wager. In the day’s seven stakes, favorites went 0-for-7.

It was Fort Washington’s third win in five starts this year and seventh in 28 career outings. The Million purse pushed his career bankroll to more than $1.3 million. He began his career at two and has made more money each successive year.

Fort Washington, an intact son of War Front, began his racing career for co-owners Joseph Allen and Peter Brant. In July 2023, Anzalone paid $260,000 for Brant’s half of the horse, and he later bought the rest of it from Allen. It’s turned out to be a wise investment.

“He just kind of fell in my lap,” the owner said. “It’s just been an outstanding adventure.”  

NOTES In other graded stakes action on the card, Giocoso slipped through on the rail to win the Grade 2, $500,000 Secretariat for three-year-olds going a mile on the turf, while Charlene’s Dream posted a front-running score in the Grade 2, $500,000 Beverly D. for fillies and mares. Ben Curtis was in the irons aboard Giocoso for trainer Keith Desormeaux, while Javier Castellano piloted Charlene’s Dream for Ed Moger, Jr.