Fort Washington Last To First In Arlington Million; Mystik Dan Fourth originally appeared on Paulick Report.

Last early, Fort Washington unleashed a willing stretch rally on the far outside and surged late to deny Grand Sonata in the Arlington Million (G1) on Saturday at Colonial Downs.

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The 6-year-old son of War Front, ridden by Junior Alvarado for trainer Shug McGaughey, was last of seven for a mile in the 1 1/4-mile turf test and swung widest entering the lane. He eagerly closed ground as 12-1 shot Grand Sonata snatched the lead along the rail in the final furlong and got up for a half-length win under urging.

Grand Sonata hung on for second and Integration, the 3-5 favorite and Fort Washington’s stablemate, was third, a head back. Former Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan finished fourth in his turf debut after racing in second and third early behind pacesetter Time Song, the longest shot in the field at 55-1.

Time Song set early fractions of :23.94, :48.36, 1:12.25, and 1:36 through one mile while maintaining a clear advantage before he was dispatched leaving the turn and Integration took a short-lived lead.

Fort Washington covered the 1 1/4-mile outer turf test in 1:59.58 and returned $13.40 for the victory, his sixth from 27 career starts. He was rebounding from a fifth-place finish in the Wise Dan (G2) June 28 at Churchill Downs. Prior to that, Magic Cap Stables color-bearer scored back-to-back Grade 3s in the March 1 Canadian Turf and May 17 Dinner Party, a Gulfstream Park and Pimlico Race Course, respectively.

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“I wanted to make sure he got comfortable,” Alvarado said. “He’s a tricky horse to ride sometimes. When he’s at his best, you know it right away. Today I felt that going into the first turn. I wanted to make sure I saved enough ground so that I had a big punch at the end. When I swung out in the clearing he finished up very strong. My horse has a powerful turn of foot.”

John Velazquez, jockey of third-place finisher Integration said: “I think the track was a little bit hard for him. I think he likes a little more give to it. He didn’t have it today.”

Brian Hernandez Jr., rider of Mystik Dan, said the colt was in a great spot (fourth) entering the stretch.

“They just outpunched him,” he said. “Turning for home I had Integration right there and I thought we could get it done. He quickened but with grass horses like he ran against today, it’s a different turn of foot. He handled the grass fine, but he just didn’t travel in my hands like I’d like him to on the backside today.”

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Fort Washington was bred in Kentucky by Joseph Allen LLC and White Birch Farm Inc. from the Turtle Bowl mare Azaelia (FR). The $607,600 winner’s share of the Arlington Million purse boosted his lifetime bankroll to $1,352,182.

This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.