There’s much more to the Festival of Racing at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Virginia than the Arlington Million.
Yes, the showcase Million has attracted defending champion Fort Washington as well as favorite Burnham Square and second choice Dresden Row. But Saturday’s undercard features a pair of $500,000 Grade 2 turf races – the Beverly D Stakes and the Secretariat Stakes.
Cherie DeVaux, who trains Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Golden Tempo, sends out Supercharger (7-2) in the 1 1/16-mile Secretariat, which drew a field of nine 3-year-olds.
Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez makes the trip from Saratoga to ride Gimme a Nother (9-2) in the 1 3/16-mile Beverly D for 3-year-olds and up, Fuzzbuster (8-1) in the Secretariat, and Integration (4-1) in the Arlington Million.
The 12-race card offers nearly $3 million in purses.
Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse could have a big day at tracks around the country. He sends out Alpyland as the 9-5 favorite in this one.
The 3-year-old gelding broke his maiden at fourth asking and has won six of his last eight starts, including the Penn Mile Stakes (G3) and the American Derby on June 27 at Churchill Downs.
Look for him to press the pace as he leaves from the outside post 9 under Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano.
Fuzzbuster broke his maiden at sixth asking, winning at a mile on June 25 at Churchill Downs. Velazquez gets the call leaving from post 4 for trainer Vicki Oliver.
H. Graham Motion has always enjoyed success at Colonial Downs and sends out Turf Star (6-1) in the Secretariat. The colt has not fared well in graded stakes; most recently finished last of 10 in the Belmont Derby (G1) on July 4 at Saratoga. He won the James Murphy Stakes on May 16 at Laurel Park.
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turf Star | J Ruiz | H G Motion | 6/1 |
| 2 | Conducted | P Lopez | J F D'Angelo | 6/1 |
| 3 | Supercharger | M Franco | C DeVaux | 7/2 |
| 4 | Fuzzbuster | J R Velazquez | V H Oliver | 8/1 |
| 5 | Vino Solo | J E Vargas | M R Lopez | 20/1 |
| 6 | Infiltrate | T Gaffalione | B P Walsh | 10/1 |
| 7 | Street Beast | B J Hernandez, Jr. | B Colebrook | 8/1 |
| 8 | Redland Rebels | K J Asmussen | P L Biancone | 15/1 |
| 9 | Alpyland | J Castellano | M E Casse | 9/5 |
Last Updated on 07/31/2026
A field of 12 is led by H. Graham Motion-trained Gimme a Nother, a South Africa-bred Grade 1 winning filly with nine victories in 13 career starts.
The 6-year-old mare won all seven races in South Africa before being sent to the United States. Velazquez will be aboard, leaving from post 9.
Gimme a Nother has won his last two races, the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2) on Sept. 6 at Del Mar and opened 2026 with a victory in the Eatontown Stakes (G3) on June 13 at Monmouth Park.
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
