Mystik Dan, the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) champion, is set to make his turf debut in the Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs on Saturday. This 1¼ mile turf race in New Kent, Virginia, is the highlight of the race festival, featuring an eight-horse field competing for a $1 million purse. The Arlington Million will be the 12th race on the card, with the first post scheduled for 12 p.m. ET.
The 2025 Racing Festival offers a total purse of $2.5 million across seven races, including the $500,000 Beverly D. (G2) for older mares at 1 3/16 miles on the turf, the $500,000 Secretariat (G2) for 3-year-old turf horses over one mile, and several other stakes races on dirt and turf. Mystik Dan, trained by Kenny McPeek for owners including Lance Gasway and Valley View Farm, has earned $4,467,120 in his career. His victory in the Kentucky Derby completed a Derby Oaks sweep for McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.
After running in all three Triple Crown races, finishing second twice in the Preakness (G1), Mystik Dan is now freshened up and ready for his 4-year-old season. His recent race was a fourth-place finish behind Mindframe in the Stephen Foster (G1) on June 28. McPeek believes the Arlington Million, a Grade 1 turf race at 1¼ miles, is perfectly suited for this versatile horse.
On August 1, Mystik Dan worked five furlongs on the turf at Saratoga, clocking a time of 1:02.17 and showing enthusiasm for the surface. Starting from the rail post, he was listed at 9-2 odds on the morning line. Trainer Shug McGaughey has entered two horses, including the favorite Integrated (8-5 morning line), who finished second in last year’s Arlington Million and boasts $1,643,950 in earnings. Integrated, owned by West Point Thoroughbred and Woodford Racing, comes off a win in the 2023 Virginia Derby (G3) and will be ridden by jockey John Velazquez.
Another contender is Fort Washington, a 6-year-old owned by Magic Cap Stables, coming off a fifth-place finish in the Wise Dan (G2) at Churchill Downs. This horse has back-to-back Grade 3 wins on Canadian turf and will be ridden by Junior Alvarado. Last year’s Arlington Million winner, Nations Pride, owned by Godolphin, is also in the field. Trained by Alice Haynes and bred in Ireland, Nations Pride has multiple Group 2 and Group 3 placings worldwide and finished third in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. He will be piloted by Colonial Downs’ leading rider Ben Curtis from post five.
Other notable entries include Grand Sonata, a multiple graded stakes winner trained by Todd Pletcher with earnings over $2.2 million, and Runaway Storm, who won the Brian Station (G3) in 2023 for trainer Ethan West.
The full Arlington Million (G1) field with jockeys, trainers, and morning line odds is as follows: Mystik Dan (Hernandez, McPeek, 9-2), Time Song (Luis Saez, Jonathan Thomas, 30-1), Vesting (Javier Castellano, Mike Maker, 12-1), Runaway Storm (Alex Achard, Ethan West, 20-1), Cairo (Curtis, Haynes, 7-2), Fort Washington (Junior Alvarado, McGaughey, 4-1), Grand Sonata (Tyler Gaffalione, Pletcher, 8-1), Integrated (Velazquez, McGaughey, 8-5).
This update was first reported by the Paulick Report on August 3, 2025.
Fan Take: Mystik Dan’s move to turf in such a prestigious race signals a thrilling new chapter for a Kentucky Derby winner, blending classic dirt success with turf aspirations. For horse racing fans, this could showcase the versatility and international appeal of American runners, potentially raising the sport’s profile globally.
