Nations Pride rallied under a confident ride by jockey William Buick to a 1 3/4-length victory in the Grade 1 Arlington Million Aug. 11 at Colonial Downs over a small but talented cast of rivals.

Nations Pride, a 5-year-old Godolphin homebred trained by Charlie Appleby, scored his fourth North American victory. He also is a Group 1 winner in Germany and scored at the Group 3 level in Dubai.

Coming into the Million off a second in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, Buick settled Nations Pride in third while charging down the Colonial Downs backstretch. Longshot Sugoi sent out to a huge lead as they approached the far turn but quickly faded when the stretch run loomed. Nations Pride willingly took the lead when asked for his run and then held off Integration, the winner of last year's Grade 3 New Kent County Virginia Derby, who finished second. Ancient Rome and Talk of the Nation were third and fourth.

"Look, he was the best horse in the race, and we knew that," Buick said of Nations Pride. "He's an exciting horse and he's won four Grade 1s now.

The Million's storied history started in 1981 at Arlington Park Racecourse in suburban Chicago and offered the first seven-figure Thoroughbred purse in history. John Henry put the event on the map with a dramatic, last-stride victory over The Bart — a finish that was commemorated in a life-size bronze statue that stood on the balcony overlooking the paddock until Arlington was closed after the 2021 season.

Moira Wins Beverly D. In Battle of Canadian Champion Mares

Virginia racing fans at Colonial Downs Aug. 11 were treated to a duel of Canadian Horse of the Year titlists in the Grade 2 $500,000 Beverly D. Stakes as Moira and Fev Rover came down to the final jumps with Moira emerging victorious under jockey Jose Ortiz.

Moira, the 2022 Canadian Horse of the Year, exited the starting gate as the favorite while 2023 Canadian Horse of the Year Fev Rover aimed to repeat her frontrunning victory in the 2023 running of the Beverly D.

Moira passes outside to win the Beverly D. (Tim Sudduth/Eclipse Sportswire)

"It's always nerve-wracking when you hook Fev Rover. She's a great horse," said Moira's trainer Kevin Attard. "I think Fev Rover gets the edge over us on softer ground but Moira prefers harder turf."

Moira stopped the clock in 1:54.80 for the 1 3/16 miles and paid $3.40 to win. Fav Rover was second and Neecie Marie finished third.

"She's always been a special horse to us," said Attard. "It's nice to see her reel off consecutive races of consistency against top-quality horses.

Picking up the second graded victory of her career, Moira improved her record to 6-5-2 from 15 starts for earnings of $1,823,999.

The Beverly D. is a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "win and you're in" Series, and Moira earned an automatic free entry into the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Nov. 2 at Del Mar, a race she finished third in last year.

"That's where we're heading," Attard said before adding that her final prep will likely take place in the $750,000 Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes at her home track of Woodbine on Sept. 14. -- Sean Collins