(Sunday, August 10) Spirit One led at every pole in route to a gate-to-wire score in the $1 million Arlington Million (G1), and Europeans shipped in to sweep the top three spots in the 26th running of one of the most prestigious turf races in the U.S.

Sprit One, trained by Philippe Demercastel and ridden to victory by Ioritz Mendizabal, earned an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita in October with the upset.

"We'll take him home, give him time off and definitely come back to the U.S for racing," Demercastel said.   "I've been tempted for awhile, especially with this horse to try American racing."

The winner returned $29.40 as the least regarded of the three European shippers.

Archipenko was sent off as the 6/5 favorite for trainer Michael de Kock and jockey Kevin Shea. The four year old stalked the early pace while down along the inside and had trouble finding running room turning for home, pinned down along the rail by jockey Johnny Murtagh aboard second choice Mount Nelson.

"Johnny had me in (trapped) all the way around," said Shea. "When it was time to go, I begged him to let me go and he wouldn't let me through."

Archipenko found enough room to get past Mount Nelson in the stretch, but could not catch the winner, coming up three quarters of a length short of the top spot.

The $2 exacta returned $68.40 and the all-European trifecta paid $264.20.

Three time Grade 1 winner Einstein, who was bred in Brazil, was the best hopeful among the U.S. based runners.

The Helen Pitts trainee, who was ridden by Robby Albarado, stumbled coming out of the gate, moved up along the backstretch and came five wide into the stretch, but flattened out and finished a non threatening fifth.

The Arlington Million was one of three Grade 1 races that were part of the International Festival of Racing at Arlington Park.

European shippers finished one-two in the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (G1), a race restricted to three year olds.

Winchester stalked the early pace, angled out for the stretch drive and was much the best, pulling clear to win by 7 ¼ lengths.

The colt is trained by Dermot Weld and ridden to victory by Rene Douglas.

"I put the blinkers on him and that helped," Weld said. "Rene has beat me a couple of times in other races so when I had the chance to get him on this horse so I took it. Don't be surprised if you see him back for the Breeders' Cup Turf."

The winner paid $17.00 with runner up Plan completing a $62.00 exacta.

Even money favorite Tizdejavu set the early fractions and weakened to finish third, completing a $148.00 trifecta.

Mauralakana, a French bred mare based in the U.S. with trainer Christophe Clement was the winner in the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes (G1).

The five-year-old mare was ridden by Kent Desormeaux and paid $6.80 as the second choice in the race.

The mare sat just off the pace, made a three wide move around the far turn to take the lead and held on to win by 1 ¼ lengths over the late running Communique, who completed a $65.40 exacta.

"I was pretty confident in her turn of foot," said Desormeaux of Mauralakana, "so I wasn't worried about the ones in front of me. I just didn't want anyone coming from behind to get me."

It was her first Grade 1 win and she earned an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf with her victory.