Set Piece wins the Gr.1 Arlington Million

The son of Dansili collected the Gr.1 Arlington Million at Colonial Downs on Saturday, setting both a stakes and track record for mile and a quarter distance.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 13th August 2023, by Stephanie Grimm:

In Virginia's first rendition of the 'Million', held under a scorching sun in front of the largest crowd ever assembled at Colonial Downs, Set Piece, under the expert guidance of Florent Geroux, took his time from the gate and eased into stride at the rear of the field. Early leader Strong Quality, with Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Javier Castellano aboard, went out to assume command and had no trouble up front through fractions of :22.96 and :46.67. Set Piece was eased out up the backstretch and into the far turn, had to come widest of the frontrunners to get himself into striking position at the quarter pole, and closed determinedly past Santin to nab the clear win. The final time of 1:58.19 was both a stakes and a track record for the one and a quarter mile distance.

"You hate to be that far behind," said Katie Tolbert, assistant to winning trainer Brad Cox. "But when you see fractions like that, and Florent knows him so well, it gives you a little confidence that he's gonna make sure to be there at the end."

Geroux added: "It was great. I thought it was going to be an expected pace and it obviously was not. But up the backside, I could see a lot of horses and how they were going and I thought we were going quick enough."