Three skydivers entertained the crowd as they landed on the turf and main tracks. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
During the skydiving portion, the crowd was also treated to a rendition of “Sweet Home Chicago” in the winner’s circle. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
While the crowd seemed to be really into both things, the ponies in the tunnel were more interested in napping before the busy stakes action. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
The first stakes of the day was the Bruce D. Memorial for 3-year-olds. Yo Carm was a gritty winner, taking the lead late to win by half length. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Then it was time for the big races to start. The first up was the American St. Leger with Tobias leading the pack in. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
The American St. Leger is a 1 11/16-mile race, attracting some quality long distance runners from around the world. One of those was the German-based Wasir, who had won a two mile race two starts before the St. Leger. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Clondaw Warrior’s connections spent a few minutes getting a picture of the 9-year-old gelding and a few members of his team. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
But the favorite for the race was Da Big Hoss, who was coming in to the race with three stakes wins in four starts this year. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
O’Prado Ole set the pace early on, leading past the wire by a few lengths the first time by. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
But Da Big Hoss’ 4-to-5 favoritism was justified with the gelding showing his extraordinary kick down the stretch to win by a commanding 1 ¾ lengths. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Clondaw Warrior closed very well to get second and post-race, trainer Willie Mullins said he may head to the world famous Melbourne Cup in Australia. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
While Clondaw Warrior was thinking about his trip to Australia, Da Big Hoss was all about getting his picture taken with his new garland of flowers. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
As Da Big Hoss headed back to the barn to cool out, it was time for the 3-year-olds to take their spot in the spotlight. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Long Island Sound was looking to give trainer Aidan O’Brien his third straight win in the Secretariat and the son of War Front looked calm and confident in the paddock. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
His biggest competition looked to be Beach Patrol, who had finished three quarters of a length in front of him in the Belmont Derby and was going to break from the gate next to him. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Interestingly (and maybe fittingly), the Secretariat had a Triple Crown feel to it. Preakness runner-up Cherry Wine was returning to the turf for the first time since before the Triple Crown trail. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Oscar Nominated has only made one start on the dirt, a 17th in the Kentucky Derby, and was making his third turf start since the Kentucky Derby in the Secretariat. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Todd Pletcher and WinStar had recruited an international jockey for the Secretariat in William Buick, who was here to ride a few other horses in the big races as well. He was on WinStar’s Kent Stakes winner American Patriot. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Scissors and Tape set the pace early on but everyone was close behind him early in the race. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
But in the end, the win was between Beach Patrol and Long Island Sound who put on a great show for the fans who showed up to the races. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
The official margin was a head victory by Beach Patrol but from my angle, a stride before the wire it looked like he was just a nose in front. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
An extremely happy group of owners led Beach Patrol to the winner’s circle after his victory. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
The winner’s circle was so full after the Secretariat that my camera couldn’t get them all in the frame but here are some of them celebrating during the photo. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
With just two more Festival races, it was time for the ladies to star in the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Beverly D. Trainer Chad Brown was looking to pick up back-to-back wins on the day with Sea Calisi, who went off as the favorite. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Coolmore spent some extra time in her saddling stall getting some finishing touches. She could have won the “Best Turned Out” award if it was given away for the race. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Soon the jockeys came out and it was time to get down to business. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Ballydoyle led the field out but instead of going with a pony, her handlers led her through the post parade before turning her loose to gallop. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
The break of the Beverly D. wasn’t smooth for everyone with favorite Sea Calisi looking like she’d decided to lean on it at the break and Coolmore rearing up. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
The 14-horse field looked like a big cavalry charge the first time by as everyone jockeyed for position before they got to the first turn. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Zipessa looked like she would win it for the home team coming into the stretch but Sea Calisi made it three-for-three with favorites (and for jockey Florent Geroux, who had won the first two Festival races) to give Chad Brown the win. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
It was the fourth win in the Beverly D. for owner Martin Schwartz, who was ecstatic about the win and led his filly into the winner’s circle. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Heading back to the barn, Sea Calisi looked proud of herself and it was well deserved. The filly has been a star in both Europe and here. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
By this point, the day was flying and it was hard to believe it was already Arlington Million time. With two scratches in the hours before the Million, 11 horses were entered to contest the event with defending winner The Pizza Man in the fray. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Recent Grade 1 winner World Approval went off as the favorite and had the red-hot Geroux aboard for the run.
Tryster was my pick for the race and was doing something a little different than the other horses by walking all the way around the paddock every time instead of in front of the saddling stalls like the others. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Aidan O’Brien was trying to make history with Deauville in the Arlington Million, who was looking to become the first 3-year-old to win the Million in more than 30 years. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
A high energy horse, Mondialiste looked more than ready to go to the track when jockey Daniel Alexander Tudhope got aboard. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
It was a parade of colors during the post parade with a lot of famous and familiar silks on the track from Mrs. Fitri Hay to Charles Fipke all represented. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
As expected, Take the Stand led the first time by with the rest of the field taking their positions behind him. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
But Mondialiste was not to be denied a Breeders’ Cup spot, winning a berth in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf when taking the Arlington Million. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
Mondialiste decided he wanted to be different by not wearing his garland of flowers, a wish his team obeyed when he got his photo taken after the victory. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
As Mondialiste headed back to the barn, his connections were given their trophies. In a press conference after the victory, we were told by David O’Meara that they will be looking at more U.S. races for him, including the Breeders’ Cup. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
In the end, horses bred in three different countries, jockeys born two different countries and trainers from the U.S. and England took home the four trophies on offer during the Festival, making it a truly international affair. (Melissa Bauer-Herzog/America's Best Racing)
