Venezuelan jockey Javier Castellano will ride Fort Washington in the Arlington Million Stakes (G1) at Colonial Downs, with a prize of one million dollars. He is looking for his first Grade 1 victory of the season after two years without one.
Venezuelan jockey Javier Castellano faces a key appointment this Saturday at Colonial Downs (Virginia, USA) with the ride on Fort Washington in the Arlington Million Stakes (G1), one of the most prestigious events on the American horse racing calendar. The race offers a prize of one million dollars and features eight mature horses.
Castellano, who has not achieved a Grade 1 victory in two seasons, is hopeful that Fort Washington will bring him back to the top. The horse, trained by Shug McGaughey, has already tasted victory at this very racetrack: in 2025, he won the Arlington Million by half a length, precisely with Junior Alvarado in the saddle.
In that edition, Fort Washington started as a dark horse and remained last of seven during the first mile, before rallying on the outside to win narrowly. Now, with Castellano in the saddle, the team aims to repeat the feat and confirm that it was not a one-off.
The Arlington Million Stakes is the highlight of a twelve-race card at Colonial Downs, eight of which are stakes races. Among Fort Washington's rivals is Integration, also trained by McGaughey, who finished third in 2025. The pair of trainees from the same trainer meet again a year later, adding a tactical incentive to the race.
For Castellano, a 47-year-old jockey with over 5,000 career victories, a win here would provide a significant moral and sporting boost. In the past two years, he has accumulated Grade 2 and Grade 3 successes, but the Grade 1 has eluded him. The Venezuelan jockey is one of the most respected figures on the American circuit and is often sought after for major events.
Colonial Downs, located in New Kent (Virginia), hosts this meeting that attracts fans from across the East Coast. The racetrack, which reopened in 2019 after years of inactivity, has established itself as a venue for top-level events in American turf.
The race will be run over a distance of 2,000 meters (1 1/4 miles) on the turf, a surface where Fort Washington has shown his best performance. The condition of the ground will be a factor to watch, although forecasts indicate firm conditions.
For Spanish and Spanish-speaking fans, Castellano's presence is a special reason to follow the event. The jockey, born in Maracaibo, is one of the ambassadors of Latin horse racing in the United States, and his career inspires new generations.
Saturday's card at Colonial Downs will kick off at 12:30 local time (18:30 CET), and the Arlington Million is scheduled as the seventh race of the program, around 16:30 (22:30 CET). A large turnout is expected, along with a million-dollar betting pool.
Fort Washington, who will start from post number 4, arrives in good form after a second-place finish in a listed stakes last June. His trainer, Shug McGaughey, is a living legend of American turf and knows how to prepare his charges for big occasions.
The race will be broadcast live through betting platforms and specialized channels. Fans who cannot attend the racetrack will be able to enjoy the streaming broadcast.
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