The eyes of the racing world were on Arlington Park in Chicago on Saturday for the $1 million Arlington Million (G1), the world's first million-dollar horse race. A field of seven top turf runners went to post in this 1 1/4 mile turf feature, with Archipenko sent off as the 6-5 favorite, winner of his last two starts for trainer Mike de Kock, the Queen ELizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin and the Summer Mile at Ascot. Woodford Reserve Turf Classic winner Einstein was the 3-1 second choice on the board, over Eclipse Stakes winner Mount Nelson at 4-1.
Jockey Ioritz Mendizabal sent Spirit One to the front and he was loose on the lead for the first mile, getting slow fractions of 24.66, 48.57, 1:12.40, and 1:37.40 over the firm course, while being stalked by Archipenko down on the rail and Mount Nelson to his outside. On the far turn, jockey John Murtagh aboard Mount Nelson challenged the pacesetter, moving up alongside him at the 1/4 pole for the drive. The pair battled to the 1/8 pole but Mount Nelson tired. Archipenko, who was third the whole way, was pinned down on the rail by Mount Nelson at the top of the stretch, finally found room at the 3/16 pole and closed well, easily passing the tiring Mount Nelson, but was left with too much ground to make up as Spirit One easily held him off by 3/4 length , completing the trip in 2:02.17 over the firm turf. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Mount Nelson third. The three European starters swept the top three placings.
