Last of 11 runners around the home turn, Juddmonte homebred Set Piece uncoiled a torrid outside rally for Florent Geroux and swept past the field to win the $1-million Arlington Million (G1) on Saturday of Colonial Downs.
Sent off at 5-1 odds, the 7-year-old Dansili gelding got his first win at the highest level while adding a 13th win from 28 starts to his career record. He came into Saturday's race off a third in the Wise Dan (G2) July 1 at Ellis Park which followed a win in the Arlington (G3) June 3 at Churchill Downs in two starts prior to the Million for trainer Brad Cox.
Strong Quality set the early tempo and led into the stretch, but Santin, bidding for a second straight win in the race, grabbed the lead with a furlong to run. He was overwhelmed by the winner, however, who scored by two lengths.
Set Piece returned $13.40 after covering 1¼ miles on turf in a course record time of 1.58.19.
Santin hung on for second, and favorite Adhamo was third.
With the win, Set Piece earned the $582,800 winner's share, which increased his lifetime bankroll to $1,684,733.
British-bred Set Piece is out of the Kingmambo mare Portodora.
The Arlington Million was run at the New Kent, Va., track after being hosted last year at Churchill Downs following the closing of Arlington International Racecourse, where the race was first run in 1981.
The post Set Piece Sweeps From Last For Arlington Million Triumph appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
