Nations Pride displayed an impressive turn of foot as he sped past longtime leader Sugoi in the stretch and drew off to a one-and-three-quarter length victory in the G1 Arlington Million at Colonial Downs on Sunday, 11 Aug.
The five-year-old son of Teofilo was winning at the highest level for the fourth time in his career, adding yet another North American G1 victory to an already impressive resume that also includes G1 wins in Canada and Germany in addition to the U.S.
Nations Pride was settled near the rear of the field early as longshot Sugoi went to the front and set a somewhat mild pace as he opened up an almost 10-length lead on the rest of the field. Sugoi continued to wing along out front entering the far turn, but he began showing signs of distress as his rivals rapidly began to cut into his lead.
Sugoi desperately tried to hold onto his lead entering the stretch, but Nations Pride was under a full head of steam out in the center of the course, and he quickly zipped by Sugoi and had plenty left in the tank to hold off the late bid from Integration to win easily.
Owned and bred by Godolphin, Nations Pride is out of the Listed-winning mare Important Time (Oasis Dream), herself a daughter of G1 Prix de l’Opera heroine, Satwa Queen.
Teofilo has now sired eight Black Type winners so far this year, including G2 Singspiel Stakes winner Naval Power, G3 Ballyroan Stakes winner, Crystal Black, and Post Impressionist, winner of the G3 Manion Cup at Rosehill.
