Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem for Aug. 11, 2025

Jason looks back at calling this weekend's Arlington Million (G1) and talks about the day on the track.

A good Monday morning to you all! Writing this Sunday evening to you from my rental in Richmond after a very quiet Sunday following a very busy Saturday. Our Festival Day at Colonial Downs is in the book, and personally I was very happy with the day for the most part. Big days are always a bit different and certainly more stressful, but overall, I think the day went off smoothly and was a success. 

A friend and colleague of mine once told me after I got through a big day at Monmouth Park, “Do you know what the best part of a big day is? When it’s over!” 

I always think about that after the fact and get a chuckle out of it. For years I really did feel that way towards big days and big races. I used to get so nervous that it became a goal just to get through them as opposed to thrive under the pressure. After a few years of getting to call several “big” days throughout the year, I do feel as though I’m becoming a bit more comfortable in those graded stakes spots. 

Last Thursday, I wrote about the first Arlington Million (G1) we had here in 2023, and one of my biggest memories from that day was how nervous I was for the Secretariat S. (G2). You could hear my voice shaking in the lane. Luckily by the Million my body had gone through the adrenaline ringer so much that I was actually very calm. This year I think I felt like I was something I’d call “comfortably nervous.” Feet and leg shaking on the chair, taking deep breaths, but also not really that worried. 

One of the best moments that happens during big races is the gate opening. Once you get started, it goes so quickly, and your mind gets focused on the race, so you just fall back on the routine of it all. I’ve heard something similar from jockeys over the years when I’ve asked them about their nerves riding in the Kentucky Derby (G1) or some other big race. They almost all say once they get atop the horse, any nerves just go away. Something familiar about routine I suppose. 

Fort Washington was a deserving winner of the Million in the feature as he scored his first Grade 1 win. He was already a graded stakes winner, but he is now a millionaire and Grade 1 winner, and he unlocked both of those achievements in his 28th career start! After the race, jockey Junior Alvarado talked a lot about his career really taking off in Chicago at Arlington, and how cool it was for him to win this race. That was very neat to hear, and he’s had such an incredible year now that I’m sure he’s putting himself in the Eclipse category. 

One horse to watch for coming out of the big day was a first-time starter named Nothing Personal, who won the second race. He looked very professional in his debut win, and we’ve seen some very nice maiden winners come out of Million day the last couple years, including Integration, who of course is a multiple graded stakes winner, and Mo Fox Given, who is Grade 2 placed. So we’ll see if Nothing Personal can follow that trend. 

Now I look ahead to one of my favorite weeks of the year, Longacres Mile week. Seattle’s biggest race will be run this weekend, and we’ll talk a lot about it on this week's podcasts.  

Everyone have a good week!