Beach Patrol surged late to land Saturday's Grade I Arlington Million (1m2f) with a 2017 Cox Plate entry finishing third.
The Chad Brown-trained Beach Patrol had won the Secretariat Stakes on the course last year and finished too well to hold out the 73/1 chance Fanciful Angel to score by half a length with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Deauville staying on for third.
Beach Patrol raced in second place on the quarters of 56/1 outsider Oak Brook to the home turn where Deauville came through along the inside to strike the front momentarily just over a furlong out.
Beach Patrol found more under the riding of Joel Rosario to edge clear at 9/2, completing the trip in 2:02.39.
The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Mekthaal is an invited nomination for the 2017 Cox Plate but failed to flatter, finishing 10th of 12.
Deauville is one of O'Brien's nominations for the 2017 Cox Plate and started the 9/5 favourite.
The four-year-old son of Galileo also finishing third in the Arlington Million last year behind Mondialiste and jockey Ryan Moore was making no excuses.
"I think he ran a very good race," Moore told Arlington Park. "He had his chance. Maybe the trip stretched him."
You can watch the race below, Deauville in the pink and green jacket, starting from barrier five, Beach Patrol from 10 and Mekthaal the outside.
