The Arlington Million Stakes will always be one of horse racing’s historical markers, as the 1 ¼-mile turf race was the first to offer a million-dollar purse when its inaugural running was held in 1981 at Arlington Park in suburban Chicago.

The Million was thereafter the marquee event at Arlington and anchored its International Festival of Racing card until the picturesque track held its last live racing meet in 2021. For one year, the Million and other signature races in the International Festival were run at Churchill Downs (which was the majority owner of Arlington International), but in 2023, the races were moved to another Churchill property specializing in grass racing, Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va.

The second edition of the Arlington Million at Colonial was originally scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 10, but was bumped back a day in order to allow the track’s lush turf courses another day of recovery after rain caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby deluges the Mid-Atlantic region. The Million will be held on Colonial’s outer turf course and will be shown live on FanDuel TV.

1. Integration (5-2 morning-line odds): Turned heads last summer with two sharp wins on turf at Colonial, including the Virginia Derby, and has kept good form into his 4-year-old season even when stepping up to the Grade 1 level, finishing fifth, third, and fourth in top-level stakes earlier this year. Got back in the winner’s circle with a 6 ½-length win in the Million Preview Stakes at Colonial July 13 and should be ready to fire another big one in this race.

JOCKEY: Kendrick Carmouche; TRAINER: Shug McGaughey

2. Ancient Rome (3-1): Makes his second start in North America and first since last September, when he won the Mint Million Stakes at Kentucky Downs by a half-length. He showed signs of getting back to that form in his recent start July 13 in a one-mile Group 2 stakes in England, closing late to finish a close second. Prefers a turf course with some give in it and should get that here.

JOCKEY: Jamie Spencer; TRAINER: Charlie Hills

3. Sugoi (8-1): Has excelled since being claimed by Mike Maker in April, winning the 1 ½-mile Louisville Stakes at Churchill Downs in May and then finishing second by a half-length to Webslinger in the 1 3/8-mile Chorleywood Stakes on the same course. He does best when on or close to the early lead, and probably will be hustled to the front by Julien Leparoux, who rode him in both Churchill stakes.

JOCKEY: Julien Leparoux; TRAINER: Mike Maker

4. Nations Pride (8-5): After sensational seasons in 2022 and 2023, Godolphin homebred has fallen off slightly in two 5-year-old starts, finishing third as the odds-on favorite in the Man o’ War Stakes in May and then second in the Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes, both in New York. However, those two races were won by Godolphin stablemates Silver Knott and Measured Time, respectively, and to put it bluntly, “they ain’t here.” A deserving favorite making his third start of the year, and who is 6-for-8 lifetime at this mile and a quarter distance.

JOCKEY: William Buick; TRAINER: Charlie Appleby

5. Highland Chief (12-1): Won a couple of graded stakes on turf, including the Man o’ War back in 2022, but missed all of 2023 and has not shown the same form in three starts this year. Could not close the deal when second in a 1 1/8-mile mid-July turf stakes at Laurel Park last out and it’s hard to see him being a factor in this race.

JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Graham Motion

6. Talk of the Nation (6-1): Hard-trying type who can’t seem to break through and has come out on the short end of several stretch battles, including in all three of his starts at age 4 this year. He’s also never raced longer than 1 1/16 miles, and only tried that distance once back in early 2023 (an allowance win). Should press Sugoi’s pace and will need to run the race of his life to win.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

THE PICK: Nations Pride

LONGSHOT: Sugoi

SUPERFECTA: 4-1-2-3