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Pick Pony | Sept. 12, 2024, 6:45 p.m.
The eyes of the Thoroughbred racing world will be on Woodbine Racetrack this Saturday for Turf Champions Day, featuring four Grade 1 stakes events.
The $1 million Grade 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile is the crown jewel of Saturday’s outstanding 12-race card. The $750,000 Grade 1 E.P. Taylor, $500,000 Grade 1 bet365 Summer Stakes and $500,000 Grade 1 Natalma Stakes are all part of the all-star lineup.
The Woodbine Mile, Summer and Natalma are all part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
Saturday’s program also includes the Grade 3 Ontario Matron and Grade 3 Branded Cities Vigil Stakes to bring the total of graded stakes to six.
The lineup of stakes and post times are listed below:
Race 5 – Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma (3:25 p.m. ET) Race 6 – Grade 3 Ontario Matron (4:00 p.m. ET) Race 7 – Grade 1 E.P. Taylor (4:33 p.m. ET) Race 9 – Grade 1 bet365 Summer (5:41 p.m. ET) Race 10 – Grade 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile (6:16 p.m. ET) Race 11 – Grade 3 Vigil Stakes (6:47 p.m. ET)
Below is a “Horse to Watch” in each of Saturday’s Grade 1 races:
#1 Annascaul (Frankie Dettori/Christophe Clement)
Trainer Christophe Clement won the bet365 Summer Stakes last season with Carson’s Run and will look for another two-year-old Grade 1 victory at Woodbine. This daughter of American Pharoah won her career debut in convincing fashion on August 14 at Saratoga. Legendary jocket Frankie Dettori won this race in 2011 with Wild Beauty (GB).
#2 Moira (Rafael Hernandez/Kevin Attard)
The 2022 Canadian Horse of the Year is looking for redemption after finishing second by a neck in last year’s E.P. Taylor. The Kevin Attard trainee scored a thrilling victory over rival #3 Fev Rover (IRE) in the Grade 2 Beverly D on August 11 at Colonial Downs. The two superstars will clash again on Saturday.
Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby have won two of the last three editions of the Summer Stakes and have a big shot to win again with Al Qudra (IRE). The son of No Nay Never wil be making his North America debut with two wins in five starts. Appleby has been working Al Qudra (IRE) in the United States over the last month on the turf training track at Saratoga.
#5 Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) (Kazushi Kimura/Mark Casse)
Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) was the Champion Male Sprinter and Champion Male Turf Horse at the 2022 Sovereign Awards. After a shortened 2023 season, the Mark Casse trainee is on top of his game entering the Woodbine Mile off victories in the Grade 2 King Edward (August 23) and Grade 2 Highlander (June 29). Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) is a perfect five for five on the turf at Woodbine. Casse has won the race twice before with World Approval (2017) and Tepin (2016). Godolphin, Appleby and Buick will be aiming for a third consecutive Mile victory, teaming with #2 Naval Power (GB).
Post time for the first of 12-races on Saturday’s Turf Champions Day is 1:10 p.m.
Saturday’s card features multiple key wagering opportunities.
Mountain Breeze (IRE), racing for the top-class trio of owner and breeder Godolphin LLC, trainer Charles Appleby, and jockey William Buick, will look to secure her first stakes success in the Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma, Saturday at Woodbine.
The $500,000, one-mile turf race is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, a Grade 1 race over the same distance which will be run at Del Mar on November 1.
Mountain Breeze, a 2-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega (IRE)-Lava Flow (IRE), is set to contest her first fixture outside of England, where she has raced on five occasions, four times at Newmarket, the other at Ascot.
The chestnut filly has been prepping at Saratoga ahead of her Natalma engagement.
“She has settled into her new training regime well and she has looked very comfortable in her track work,” said Appleby. “This will be the first time she has raced on a turn, but she has shown in her work at home that she handles it well.”
A half-sister to Appleby’s former standout champion colt Pinatubo, Mountain Breeze had a winning debut over five furlongs on Qipco 1000 Guineas day at Newmarket on May 5. That was followed by another triumph, 13 days later, when she won over six furlongs at Newmarket.
After a fourth in the Group 3 Albany Stakes on Jun 21 at Ascot, the chestnut recorded important Group 2 Black Type with a closing second in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket on July 12.
Mountain Breeze arrives at the Natalma off a runner-up effort in the Group 3 Sweet Solera, run at seven furlongs over the Newmarket turf, on August 10.
“She finishes her races well suggesting that the mile should be no problem for her,” said Appleby.
Sporting a record of 2-2-0 from five starts, Mountain Breeze will have the services of Buick, whose long list of Woodbine victories include back-to-back Woodbine Miles with a pair of Godolphin homebreds and Appleby trainees, in 2022 with Modern Games (IRE) and last year with Master of The Seas (IRE).
Other starters include eight Mark Casse trainees. The dual Hall of Famer sends out Nitrogen (supplemented), Winterberry, Ready to Battle, Will Reign, And One More Time, Latin Fever (IRE), Vixen, and Thread. Graded stakes placed Italian Soiree will leave from post two and stakes placed Ready for Candy from post eight.
Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma – (Race 5)
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Annascaul – Frankie Dettori – Christopher Clement
2 – Italian Soiree – Umberto Rispoli – John Terranova II
3 – Nitrogen (S) – John Velazquez – Mark Casse
4 – Winterberry – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
5 – Ready to Battle – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse
6 – Will Reign – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse
7 – And One More Time – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
8 – Ready for Candy – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Michael De Paulo
9 – Latin Fever (IRE) – Sofia Vives – Mark Casse
10 – Arctic Velocity – Kirk Johnson – Paul Lepiane
11 – Vixen – John Velazquez – Mark Casse
12 – Thread – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
13 – Mountain Breeze (IRE) – William Buick – Charles Appleby
Fev Rover (IRE) and Moira, Canada’s last two Horses of the Year, will renew their rivalry Saturday at Woodbine in a highly competitive renewal of the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes.
The $750,000 E.P. Taylor is run over 1 ¼ miles on Woodbine’s eponymous turf course and the field of six includes the invading Group 1 winners Blue Rose Cen (IRE) and Cinderella’s Dream (GB).
Fev Rover is the defending champion In the Taylor and was placed third in the 2022 running (Moira ended second but was disqualified and placed eighth). This year’s Taylor follows their stirring stretch duel which saw Moira narrowly prevail in the Beverley D. to even their personal scoreboard at three apiece.
Unplaced in last fall’s 1 ¼ -mile Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) following her Taylor success, Fev Rover returned to action with a respectable sixth-place finish in Saratoga’s 1 3/16-mile New York (G1T) and then ended the runner-up in Woodbine’s one-mile Nassau (G2, T) as the odds-on choice.
Fev Rover, owned by Tracy Farmer, was more like her old self last time, making the running in the 1 3/16-mile Beverly D. on the Virginia turf before succumbing by a head to Moira.
“I’m expecting a big effort,” said trainer Mark Casse, who believes his mare can display further improvement. “Her last start was better than her start before, which was better than the one before that.”
Fev Rover, a 6-year-old Irish-bred, had notched her first Grade 1 in last year’s 1 3/16-mile Beverly D, which was run as a Grade 2 this season.
Moira, a 5-year-old owned by X-Men Racing LLC, Madaket Stables LLC and SF Racing LLC, was making just her second start of the season in the Beverly D., a “Win and You’re In” race for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf over 1 3/8 miles at Del Mar on November 2.
The Ontario-bred had run a strong second in Saratoga’s 1 1/8 Diana (G1T), beaten just three-quarters of a length in her first outing since a close third-place finish in last fall’s BC F&M Turf.
“Her race at Saratoga was a very good performance,” said Attard. “There wasn’t much speed. She chased, and closed well, coming off a long layoff, and followed up in the Beverly D., again a little bit of a paceless race.”
Attard had opted for the Beverley D. after being entered in the same weekend’s Canadian due to its “Win and You’re In” status and now will seek her first Grade 1 score in the E.P. Taylor.
“The E.P. Taylor has always been on her calendar,” said Attard. “It’s a bit earlier this year, which gives her more time to the Breeders’ Cup. That’s her ultimate goal, and you kind of work backwards from that.”
Blue Rose Cen, a 4-year-old owned by Yeguada Centurion, became a Group 1 winner in the Prix Marcel Boussac in her final start at 2 and followed up with victories at that lofty level in the French 1000 Guineas, Price de Diane and Prix de l’Opera last season.
This year, in the hands of new trainer Maurizio Guarnieri, the Irish-bred has failed to finish in the top three in four outings but is coming off a fourth-place finish, beaten just three-quarters of a length, in the August 18 Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet over about 1 ¼ miles of good-to-soft going at Deauville.
"On that occasion, I saw again, the female that had run very well at her comeback in Group 1 against the males in Paris, the Ispahan," said Guarnieri, who had watched Blue Rose Cen finish a close fifth in the Prix d’Ispahan over 1 1/8 miles of soft turf at Longchamp on May 26.
That was her first start for Guarnieri, and she followed with off-the-board finishes at Ascot and Deauville.
“The filly has had a wonderful but very hard career at 2 and 3 years. At 4 she needed the spring to find her best again.”
Cinderella’s Dream, a 3-year-old Godolphin homebred, is trained by Charlie Appleby, whose only previous E.P. Taylor starter was runner-up With the Moonlight last year.
After winning her two starts as a juvenile, Cinderella’s Dream extended her streak to four this winter capped by an impressive double in Dubai.
“We were impressed with how she did as a physical in Dubai and she won the Jumeirah 1000 Guineas by 5 ½ lengths despite her saddle slipping and her jockey losing his irons,” said Appleby.
Following her only defeat to date, which came in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5, Cinderella’s Dream relocated to Saratoga this summer.
After becoming a Grade 1 winner in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (run at Aqueduct) at 1 3/16 miles on grass, Cinderella’s Dream repeated over the same distance in the Saratoga Oaks Invitational (G2T).
“Her first Grade 1 win in the Belmont Oaks was impressive as it was a quality field and she broke the track record,” said Appleby. “She showed how well she had taken her travels over the winter having raced in Dubai and the UK prior.
Cinderella’s Dream now will face older rivals for the first time in what is her longest race to date.
“She is a straightforward filly and relaxes well in her races,” said Appleby. “We have been very happy with her preparation, and she comes here with confidence having won her last two starts.”
Blush, also invading from France, and Full Count Felicia, based here at Woodbine, both have the potential to spring the upset.
Bred in Ireland but trained in France, Blush is perfect in three starts this year after finishing a close sixth in her debut last fall. Trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias, Blush’s last two wins have come at the Group 3 level. She also will be facing older rivals for the first time.
Full Count Felicia, owned by Gold Square LLC, finished fourth when making her first start for trainer Kevin Attard here in the Nassau but then was a dominant front-running winner of the 1 1/8 mile Canadian (G2T) in her subsequent start.
“She had been training super going into that race,” said Attard. ‘She tends to show speed but she’s versatile – she can run on the lead or off the pace.”
Field for the E.P. Taylor Stakes
1 – Blush (IRE) – Oisin Murphy – Carlos Laffon-Parias
2 – Moira – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard
3 – Fev Rover (IRE) – John Velazquez – Mark Casse
4 – Full Count Felicia – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard
5 – Blue Rose Cen (IRE) – Umberto Rispoli – Maurizio Guarnieri
6 – Cinderella’s Dream (GB) – William Buick – Charles Appleby
Cairo Caper, winner of his last two starts, including the Soaring Free Stakes, will be looking to score one for the home team in Saturday’s $500,000 bet365 Summer Stakes (G1T), with a Breeders’ Cup berth on the line in the one-mile race.
The Summer attracted a field of 17, including three also eligibles, with the entrants including seven fillies who are cross-entered in Saturday’s Natalma for trainer Mark Casse. A guaranteed entry in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on November 1 awaits the winner.
Cairo Caper, a Kentucky-bred who is owned by William Thompson and trained by Nathan Squires, closed smartly to win the Soaring Free over 6 ½ furlongs of turf at Woodbine on August 23.
“He’s doing good,” said Squires. “No hiccups since his last race.”
“He won quite impressively, in my opinion, and the extra distance will not bother him at all. I’m very delighted in his preparation and his well-being.”
Jose Campos retains the mount as Cairo Caper moves into elite company.
“Obviously, the competition is going to be a little tougher on Saturday,” said Squires. “We have to play the cards that we are dealt but we are here, we are going to compete, and hopefully it will work out in our favour.”
Squires and Thompson have been down a similar road before with Cairo Consort, who ran second in the Natalma and third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf before being sold privately. Both Cairo Caper and Cairo Consort are by Cairo Prince.
Cairo Caper’s opponents will include a pair of dangerous English invaders and some number of talented Casse trainees.
Al Qudra (IRE), a Godolphin homebred from the barn of trainer Charles Appleby, comes into the Summer off a sharp score in the Pat Eddery, a listed stakes at Ascot which was run over a straight seven furlongs of good-to-fast going.
“He did it the hard way from the front, but still found more to draw clear in the last furlong,” said Appleby.
Recently, Al Qudra has been based at Saratoga and recorded a trio of workouts there prior to checking into Woodbine this week.
“Very nice and straightforward work, he has taken to the track work well,” said Appleby, referring to the different approach to training in North America. “He has been very professional in the mornings, and has settled in well.”
Appleby and Godolphin have been a formidable presence here in recent years with successes in the last two editions of the Woodbine Mile (Master of The Seas (IRE) and Modern Games (IRE)), Canadian Internationals with Nations Pride (IRE) (2023), and Walton Street (GB) (2021), the Summer Stakes with Mysterious Night (IRE) (2022) and Albahr (GB) (2021) and Natalma Stakes with Wild Beauty (GB) (2021) and La Pelosa (IRE) (2018).
William Buick, aboard for the stakes doubles here the past two seasons, rides Al Qudra.
New Century (GB), shipping in for Qatar Racing and trainer Andrew Balding, already has chased home Al Qudra on two occasions, finishing fourth in that one’s maiden win over the synthetic surface at Lingfield and second in the Pat Eddery.
Oisin Murphy retains the mount on New Century, who followed up his Eddery effort with his first stakes score in the listed Stonehenge over a straight mile of good-to-fast going at Salisbury.
Balding has not been represented here since 2019 when he sent out Pivoine for a fourth-place finish in the Canadian International. He does have a history of Woodbine success, however, with Blond Me (IRE) capturing the E.P. Taylor in 2017 and Phoenix Reach (IRE) taking the 2003 Canadian International.
Casse has nine entrants in all, including two of the also eligibles.
“We have a really strong group of fillies,” said Casse, who also has two colts in the Summer line-up. “We’ll be spreading them pretty evenly between the two races.”
Dream On and Special Session are the barn’s male Summer hopefuls.
Owned by D J Stable LLC, Dream On won his maiden when going 5 ½ furlongs on turf at Ellis Park following an unplaced main-track debut at Churchill Downs. The son of Not This Time ended second when making his local debut in the Soaring Free.
“I expect him to improve,” said Casse.
Special Session, a homebred who races for Stacy Farmer, finished fourth when debuting here at six furlongs on the turf and then was beaten a neck as the runner-up in a seven-furlong main track race, both starts coming in maiden company.
“He’ll definitely get the distance,” said Casse. “He’s a half-brother to Sir Winston.”
Casse sent out Sir Winston to capture the 2019 edition of the 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes for owner/breeder Farmer.
Field for the bet365 Summer Stakes (G1T) (Race 9)
1 – Ready to Battle – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse
2 – Dream On – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse
3 – Vixen – John Velazquez – Mark Casse
4 – First Resort – Umberto Rispoli – Eoin Harty
5 – Coolcollected – Ryan Munger – Patrick Dixon
6 – Cairo Caper – Jose Campos – Nathan Squires
7 – Will Reign (S) – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse
8 – Special Session (S) – John Velazquez – Mark Casse
9 – Al Qudra (IRE) – William Buick – Charles Appleby
10 – New Century (GB) – Oisin Murphy – Andrew Balding
11 – Thread – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
12 – Dewolf – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard
13 – Forty N Five – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll
14 – Winterberry – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
Also eligible:
15 – Latin Fever (IRE) – Sofia Vives – Mark Casse
16 – Groot – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard
17 – Nitrogen (S) – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse
Automatic Breeders’ Cup berths are up for grabs as outstanding renewals of the Rogers Woodbine Mile, bet365 Summer Stakes, and Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes headline Saturday’s Turf Champions Day card of racing at Woodbine.
The 28th running of the Mile, worth $1 million and contested over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor turf, has attracted eight hopefuls. The Mile and the Summer will be showcased on a live broadcast airing on Sportsnet One from 5-6:30 p.m. ET.
As part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series, the Woodbine Mile winner will be entitled to automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Mile, to be contested on November 2 at Del Mar. The winner of the $500,000 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes, for 2-year-old fillies, will be entitled to automatic entry into the Juvenile Fillies Turf on November 1, while the winner of the $500,000 bet365 Summer Stakes, for 2-year-olds, receives the same opportunity for the Juvenile Turf, also run on November 1. The nominated winners of each race will also be entitled to have pre-entry and entry fees waived for their respective Breeders’ Cup races or will receive a credit equal to their pre-entry or entry fee amount towards any other Breeders’ Cup 2024 race. All horses will be entitled to receive a travel stipend if travelling from a base located outside of California.
This year’s editions of the Mile, Natalma and Summer feature a blend of accomplished turf talents, local and international standouts, as well as high-profile owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.
Godolphin homebred Naval Power (GB) will look to shore up his impressive resume in his first race on Canadian turf.
The 4-year-old son of Teofilo (IRE)-Emirates Rewards (GB), who has constructed a record of 6-2-0 from nine starts, arrives at the Mile off a pair of strong runner-up performances in Grade 1 turf affairs, the Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland on April 12, won by stablemate and 2023 Woodbine Mile winner Master of The Seas (IRE), and the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on May 4, won by Program Trading.
“We have been delighted with his two runs in the USA to date, finishing second on both occasions to two top turf performers,” said Appleby.
Appleby expects Naval Power to take well to the E.P. Taylor course.
“Woodbine is a fair track and is always well maintained. This horse has won on both quick and yielding ground, so we don’t have any concerns ahead of the weekend. He had a nice break after his run at Churchill and the team are very happy with him.”
Naval Power launched his career with four straight triumphs, including a 6 ½-length score in the Pat Eddery in July of 2022 at Ascot.
The gelding’s only result outside of the top two was a sixth in the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst at Newcastle on October 8, 2022.
Naval Power’s most notable victory to date came in the Group 2 Singspiel at Meydan in the United Arab Emirates in his 4-year-old debut in February.
“He is from a family that I know well having trained both the dam and her half-brother, Outstrip (GB), who was my first Breeders Cup’ winner 2013,” noted Appleby.
Godolphin and Appleby will be looking to replicate their multiple Woodbine successes including when they hit the Canadian International (Walton Street (GB)), bet365 Summer (Albahr (GB)) and Johnnie Walker Natalma (Wild Beauty (GB)) trifecta in 2021.
In 2022, Godolphin and Appleby sent out five-time group 1 winner, Modern Games (IRE), to Woodbine Mile glory, which was followed by a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T). Mysterious Night (IRE) added to the former day’s success with a win in the bet365 Summer.
Last year, Master of The Seas (IRE) gave Godolphin and Appleby their second straight Mile success.
William Buick, aboard for both Mile triumphs, will make the trip to ride on Saturday.
Big Rock (FR) will make his first start in North America for trainer Maurizio Guarnieri.
The 4-year-old son of Rock of Gibraltar (IRE)-Hardiyna (IRE) enjoyed a banner 3-year-old campaign which yielded a Group 1 win, at Ascot, in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, along with three runner-up efforts at the Group 1 level, and a pair of Group 3 successes.
This year, however, the dark bay, bred and owned by Yeguada Centurion, has had a tough go in three starts.
He was sixth to open his campaign in the Group 1 Al Shabab Lockinge on May 18 at Newbury. One month later, he was tenth in the Group 1 Queen Anne at Ascot.
Big Rock comes into the Mile off a fifth in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on August 11.
Guarnieri believes a run over the E.P. Taylor turf could help turn around his charge’s fortunes.
“Yes, I hope. I believe Woodbine turf is suitable for European horses. He is a very calm and available horse.”
Sporting a mark of 5-5-0 from 14 starts, Big Rock will be partnered by Umberto Rispoli.
“In the races, Big Rock gives his best as a frontrunner,” noted Guarnieri. “He has the characteristics of a flier but runs the mile. He is strong with very good mental balance.”
Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse will send out Filo Di Arianna (BRZ), My Boy Prince and Win for the Money.
Filo Di Arianna is a four-time graded stakes winner for owners Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, and Peter Deutsch. He has won the King Edward (G2T) twice, in 2022 and 2024, this year’s Highlander (G2T), and the 2022 Connaught Cup (G2T).
The son of Drosselmeyer-Principessa Capri (BRZ) earned two 2022 Sovereign Awards as Canada’s champion male sprinter and champion male turf horse.
Bred by Stud Principessa di Capri, Filo Di Arianna is 9-3-1 from 17 starts and has recorded $615,528 in purse earnings.
Kazushi Kimura will be in the irons.
Wayne Grant is the groom.
My Boy Prince, Canada’s champion 2-year-old male, has crafted an impressive 6-3-1 mark from 11 career starts.
The multiple stakes winning son of Cairo Prince-Hopping Not Hoping won last year’s Simcoe Stakes and Cup and Saucer Stakes. This year, he took three straight stakes, the King Corrie, Queenston and Plate Trial.
He was a determined second in The King’s Plate on August 23.
“My Boy Prince is an amazing horse,” said jockey Sahin Civaci. “He is the kind of horse you dream of riding. You know that he will give his all every time.”
“This horse just doesn't give a hoot about much,” said Casse, who won the 2016 and 2017 editions of the Mile with Tepin and World Approval, respectively. "You sure wouldn't look at him and think that he's some superstar. He saves it all for on the track.”
Ivan Forde is the groom.
Casse’s other starter comes in the form of Win for the Money.
A 5-year-old son of Moyhamen-Mayakoba owned by Live Oak Plantation, the multiple graded stakes placed gelding is 4-5-1 from 15 starts.
Bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Win for the Money, after a debut at Ellis Park, broke his maiden next time out at Woodbine on November 20, 2021, in a seven-furlong race over the main track.
His other two starts at the Woodbine came last fall when he was third in the Autumn Stakes (G2) and second in the Valedictory (G3).
This year, he won the Mr. Steele Stakes (Black Type) at Gulfstream in May, was fourth in the Wise Dan (G2T) at Churchill in June and was second in the KY Downs Mint Millions Turf Mile Stakes at Ellis Park on August 3.
Patrick Husbands, who won the 2001 Mile with Numerous Times, gets the call.
"Win for the Money is a very versatile horse,” said Husbands. “He’s getting better and better with each race.”
Alvin King is the groom.
Veteran campaigner Niagara Skyline, who calls the Woodbine backstretch home, is in fine form ahead of the Mile.
Trained by John Charalambous, the 6-year-old son of War Dancer-Expressly Yours has reached the podium in all three of his 2024 starts.
After a third, only three-quarters of a length behind the winner, in a five-furlong sprint over the Toronto oval’s inner turf, Niagara Skyline was runner-up, missing by a neck, over seven panels on the E.P. Taylor turf on June 16.
The bay gelding took to the inner turf again in his latest test and went back to the barn a 1 ½-length winner at 7 ½ furlongs on July 28.
“He is a consummate professional, both in his training and temperament,” said Charalambous. “He’s a wonderful horse to be around.”
Owned by Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch, Niagara Skyline was bred in Ontario by James Everatt, Janeane Everatt and Arika Everatt-Meeuse.
Fashioning a record of 6-5-2 from 24 starts, accompanied by $250,492 in earnings, Niagara Skyline was a $6,000 (CDN) purchase at the 2019 CTHS Winter Mixed Sale.
Cheryl Dagg is the groom.
Playmea Tune, a Chiefswood Stables homebred, has a record of 2-1-0 from three starts.
Trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Josie Carroll, the 4-year-old son of Maclean’s Music-Fifth Overture got his career out of the gates in grand fashion when he romped to an 11-length score at six furlongs over the Woodbine main track on May 24.
The bay gelding came back with a 5 ½-length victory at 6 ½ furlongs on the Toronto oval main track next time out on July 7.
In his first stakes test, the 6 ½-furlong Grade 3 Bold Venture, Playmea Tune rallied stoutly to finish second, just a neck back of the winner, sprint star Patches O’Houlihan.
Mohammed Elias is the groom.
A $9,000 (CDN) purchase at the 2019 CTHS Canadian Premier Yearling Sale, Secret Reserve is trained by Mike Mattine for owners Carlo D’Amato and Stacey Van Camp.
The resume of the 6-year-old son of Giant Gizmo-Smart Suzie, who brings a record of 6-1-8 from 26 starts into the Mile, includes stakes victories in the 2021 editions of the Elgin and Lake Superior, the 2022 Bold Venture (G3), and last year’s Steady Growth.
Last time out, in the King Edward Stakes (G2T), Secret Reserve, at 44-1, kept on for third in the one-mile affair over good going on the E.P. Taylor turf.
“He’s a happy horse,” said Mattine. “He ran a very nice race last time against some very tough competition. It’s going to be tougher this time, but he’s doing great. His exercise rider, Elvis Kellman, is happy with him too. Hopefully, this horse can come up with a big effort on Saturday.”
Hardeo Bhulpaul is the groom.
First-race post time for Saturday is 1:10 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com.
Field for the $1 million Rogers Woodbine Mile (Race 10)
1 – Playmea Tune – John Velazquez – Josie Carroll
2 – Naval Power (GB) – William Buick – Charles Appleby
3 – Secret Reserve – Leo Salles – Mike Mattine
4 – Big Rock (FR) – Umberto Rispoli – Maurizio Guarnieri
5 – Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse
6 – Win for the Money – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
7 – Niagara Skyline – Rafael Hernandez – John Charalambous
8 – My Boy Prince – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse