In 1973, Arlington Park introduced the Arlington Invitational with one very specific goal in mind: attract that year’s Triple Crown winner Secretariat to the Chicago-area racetrack. Big Red came and conquered by nine lengths and the next year the race was renamed in his honor.

The distance of the Secretariat Stakes and the host venue have changed over the years, the former ranging from its current one-mile distance to 1 ½ miles and the race moving to Colonial Downs in 2023. The race typically draws many of the best 3-year-old turf horses in the U.S. and beyond, and this year’s edition drew a field of eight 3-year-olds.

1. Giocoso (6-1 morning-line odds): Deep closer is unplaced in two stakes races on grass. Passed a few horses late in the Grade 1 American Turf Stakes Presented by Ford May 3. Freshened since that race and should be doing his best running late.

JOCKEY: Ben Curtis; TRAINER: Keith Desormeaux

2. Maui Strong (7-2): Placed in three turf stakes earlier this year and should be near the lead early in a race without a ton of speed. Fast enough to win at his best.

JOCKEY: Vincent Cheminaud; TRAINER: Dale Romans

3. End of Romance (5-1): Enters off a confidence-building allowance win at Delaware Park and picks up the services of Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. Faces a big class test here but eligible to improve. 

JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Graham Motion

Secretariat Stakes entrant Simulate (Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher)

4. Simulate (8-1): Flashed some serious last kick in his most recent start, finishing with a final-quarter-mile in :23.01 to win by 2 ½ lengths at Saratoga Race Course. Makes his stakes debut in the Secretariat, but he’s a major player if he duplicates his last race. The pick.

JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado; TRAINER: Bill Mott

5. Antisocial (10-1): Won an allowance race on this turf course in his most recent start. Like others, faces a significant challenge stepping up to a Grade 2 race. Adding jockey Luis Saez helps his chances to outrun his morning-line odds.

JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Jorge Duarte Jr.

6. Anegada (12-1): Strung together three quality starts earlier this spring but enters off a disappointing eighth-place finish in an allowance-optional claiming race July 5 at Ellis Park. Morning-line odds plus addition of jockey Tyler Gafalione offer some appeal.

JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Mike Maker

7. Cairo Caper (9-2): Enters off runner-up finish to Dream On in Grade 3 Penn Mile Stakes, which was by far his best effort in three tries at this distance. He has been competing consistently against quality opponents since winning a turf stakes last summer but needs to show more late.

JOCKEY: Victor Carrasco; TRAINER: Phil Schoenthal

8. Dream On (5-2): Led in deep stretch of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf but faded late to finish fifth. He has won three of four starts this year and posted back-to-back stakes wins at this one-mile distance in April at Aqueduct and most recently in the Penn Mile. A worthy favorite.

JOCKEY: Javier Castellano; TRAINER: Mark Casse

THE PICK: Simulate

LIVE LONGSHOT: Simulate

SUPERFECTA: 4-8-6-3