Irish-bred Cape Blanco won the Arlington Million on Saturday, surging to the lead at the head of the stretch to beat 2009 champion Gio Ponti by 2-1/2 lengths.
Dean's Kitten finished third in the 10-horse field.
Under jockey Jamie Spencer, Cape Blanco ran the 1-1/4-mile turf race in 2:05.39 during a steady rain and paid $6.20, $3.80 and $3.40.
"All I did was do the steering," Spencer said, adding that "he had loads left in the end."
It was another disappointment for Gio Ponti, which finished a close second in last year's race. The 6-year-old Kentucky-bred was trying to become only the second horse in Arlington Million history to win the race twice. Hall of Fame thoroughbred John Henry crossed the finish line first in 1981 and 1984.
"The winner had first run on us and you have to give him credit, we were second best today," Gio Ponti jockey Ramon Dominguez said.
Gio Ponti returned $3.40 and $2.80, and Dean's Kitten paid $7.20 to show.
Gio Ponti also finished second in last year's Arlington Million.
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Cape Blanco is owned by Mrs. Fitriani Hay, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael B. Tabor.
"There are very few horses that have the will to win like he has," Spencer said of Cape Blanco, with eight wins in 14 career starts.
Two other Grade I races were contested on the turf at Arlington Park.
French horse Stacelita won the $750,000 Beverly D.
Dominguez steered Stacelita to the lead over Great Britain's Dubawi Heights at the head of the stretch to win by 11/4 lengths in the 1 3/16 miles race. Dubawi Heights held on for second, while South African horse River Jetez finished third in the race contested by 11 horses.
Trained by Chad Brown, Stacelita went off as the race favorite.
Great Britain's Treasure Beach fought off Irish-bred Ziyarid in a dueling stretch drive to win the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes by a neck. Jockey Colm O'Donoghue was on board the favorite Treasure Beach for O'Brien. Banned was third in the field of nine horses over the 11/4-mile race.
