Automatic Breeders’ Cup berths are up for grabs as the Grade
1 Woodbine Mile, the Summer Stakes (G1) and the Natalma Stakes (G1) headline
Saturday’s card at Woodbine.
The 28th running of the Woodbine Mile worth US$736,615 and
contested over the turf course has attracted eight hopefuls. As part a win-and-you’re-in
challenge series, the winner will be entitled to automatic entry into the Breeders’
Cup Mile on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
Click here for Woodbine entries and results.
Godolphin homebred Naval Power will look to shore up his
impressive resume in his first race on Canadian turf in the Woodbine Mile.
The 4-year-old son of Teofilo who has constructed a record
of 9: 6-2-0 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 was won by
stablemate and 2023 Woodbine Mile winner Master of The Seas, and the Turf Classic
at Churchill Downs on May 4 was 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,” trainer
Charlie Appleby said.
He expects Naval Power to take well to the Woodbine turf
course.
“Woodbine is a fair track and is always well maintained,” Appleby
said. “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 1/2-length score in the Pat Eddery in July 2022 at Ascot.
The gelding’s only result outside the top two was a sixth in
the Dewhurst (G1) at Newcastle on Oct. 8, 2022.
Naval Power’s most notable victory to date came in the Singspiel
(G2) at Meydan 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, who was my first Breeders Cup’ winner in
2013,” Appleby said.
Godolphin and Appleby will be looking to replicate their
multiple Woodbine successes including when they hit the Canadian International with
Walton Street, the Summer with Albahr and the Natalma with Wild Beauty, all in
2021.
In 2022, Godolphin and Appleby sent five-time group 1 winner
Modern Games to Woodbine Mile glory. That was followed by a victory in the
Breeders’ Cup Mile. Mysterious Night added to the team’s success with a win in
the 2022 Summer Stakes.
Last year Master of The Seas 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 will make his first start in North America for
trainer Maurizio Guarnieri.
The 4-year-old son of Rock of Gibraltar enjoyed a banner
3-year-old campaign that yielded a Group 1 win at Ascot in the Queen Elizabeth
II Stakes along with three runner-up efforts at the top 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 Lockinge (G1) on
May 18 at Newbury. One month later he was 10th in the Queen Anne (G1) at Ascot.
Big Rock comes into the Mile off a fifth in the Prix Jacques
Le Marois (G1) at Deauville on Aug. 11.
Guarnieri believes a run over the Woodbine turf could help
turn around his charge’s fortunes.
“Yes, I hope,” he said. “I believe Woodbine turf is suitable
for European horses. He is a very calm and available horse.”
Sporting a mark of 14: 5-5-0, Big Rock will be partnered by
Umberto Rispoli.
“In the races Big Rock gives his best as a front-runner,” Guarnieri
said. “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, 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 won the King Edward
(G2) twice, in 2022 and 2024, this year’s Highlander (G2) and the 2022
Connaught Cup (G2).
The son of Drosselmeyer 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 17: 9-3-1
and has recorded US$615,528 in purse earnings.
Kazushi Kimura will be in the irons.
My Boy Prince, Canada’s champion 2-year-old male, has
crafted an 11: 6-3-1 mark. The multiple stakes-winning son of Cairo Prince won
last year’s Simcoe Stakes and Cup and Saucer Stakes. This year he took three
straight stakes, including the King Corrie, Queenston and Plate Trial. He was a
determined second in The King’s Plate on Aug. 23.
“My Boy Prince is an amazing horse,” jockey Sahin Civaci
said. “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 Woodbine Mile with Tepin and
World Approval in that order. “You sure wouldn’t look at him and think that he’s
some superstar. He saves it all for on the track.”
Win for the Money is Casse’s other starter. A 5-year-old son
of Moyhamen who is owned by Live Oak Plantation, the multiple graded-stakes-placed
gelding is 15: 4-5-1.
Bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Win for the Money
made his debut at Ellis Park and then broke his maiden next out at Woodbine on
Nov. 20, 2021, in a seven-furlong race over the synthetic track.
His other two starts at Woodbine came last fall, when he was
third in the Autumn Stakes (G2) and second in the Valedictory (G3).
This year he won the black-type Mr. Steele at Gulfstream Park
in May, was fourth in the Wise Dan (G2) at Churchill in June and was second in
the Kentucky Downs Mint Millions Turf Mile Preview at Ellis Park on Aug. 3.
Patrick Husbands, who won the 2001 Woodbine Mile with
Numerous Times, gets the call.
“Win for the Money is a very versatile horse,” Husbands
said. “He’s getting better and better with each race.”
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 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 outer turf June
16.
The bay gelding took to the inner turf again in his latest
test and went back to the barn a 1 1/2-length winner at 7 1/2 furlongs July 28.
“He is a consummate professional both in his training and
temperament,” Charalambous said. “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 US$250,492 in
earnings, Niagara Skyline was a US$4,500 purchase at the 2019 Canadian Thoroughbred
Horse Society winter mixed sale.
Playmea Tune, a Chiefswood Stables homebred, has a record of
3: 2-1-0. Trained by Canada Hall of Fame inductee Josie Carroll, the 4-year-old
son of Maclean’s Music got his career out of the gate in grand fashion when he
romped to an 11-length score at six furlongs over the Woodbine synthetic track May
24.
The bay gelding came back with a 5 1/2-length victory at 6 1/2
furlongs on the Toronto Tapeta next time out July 7.
In his first stakes test, the 6 1/2-furlong Bold Venture
(G3), Playmea Tune rallied stoutly to finish second, just a neck behind winning
sprint star Patches O’Houlihan.
A US$6,750 purchase at the 2019 CTHS Canada premier yearling
sale, Secret Reserve is trained by Mike Mattine for owners Carlo
D’Amato and Stacey Van Camp.
The résumé of the 6-year-old son of Giant Gizmo who brings a
record of 26: 6-1-8 into the Woodbine 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 (G2), Secret Reserve at
44-1 kept on for third in the one-mile affair over good going on the Woodbine
outer turf.
“He’s a happy horse,” Mattine said. “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.”
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | Morn. Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Playmea Tune Maclean’s Music |
0.00 | 12-1 | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Naval Power Teofilo |
6.32 | 1-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Secret Reserve Giant Gizmo |
4.45 | 20-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Big Rock Rock of Gibraltar |
7.07 | 6-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Filo Di Arianna Drosselmeyer |
6.55 | 5-2 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Win For The Money Mohaymen |
5.23 |
2nd, KY Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile S. |
10-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
2nd, KY Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile S. |
|||||
| 7 |
|
Niagara Skyline War Dancer |
0.00 |
1st, WO AOC (07/28/2024-R9) |
20-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, WO AOC (07/28/2024-R9) |
|||||
| 8 |
|
My Boy Prince Cairo Prince |
5.77 |
2nd, King’s Plate S. |
12-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
2nd, King’s Plate S. |
|||||
The winner of the US$368,308 Natalma Stakes for 2-year-old
fillies will be entitled to automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Fillies Turf on Nov. 1, and the winner of the US$368,308 Summer Stakes for
2-year-olds receives the same opportunity for the Juvenile Turf, also Nov. 1 at
Del Mar.
This year’s editions of the Mile, Natalma and Summer feature
a blend of accomplished turf talents, local and international standouts and high-profile
owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys.
With Saturday morning scratches and changes included, these are the updated fields for the five graded stakes on the undercard Saturday at Woodbine:
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | Morn. Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Blush Kingman |
0.00 | 15-1 | ||
|
Next Race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Moira Ghostzapper |
7.20 | 7-5 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Fev Rover Gutaifan |
6.91 | 7-2 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Full Count Felicia War Front |
6.17 | 6-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Blue Rose Cen Churchill |
6.53 | 8-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| scr |
|
Cinderella’s Dream Shamardal |
7.67 | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | Morn. Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scr |
|
Ready To Battle War of Will |
0.00 | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Dream On Not This Time |
0.00 | 12-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| scr |
|
Vixen Vekoma |
0.00 | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
First Resort Uncle Mo |
5.34 | 4-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Coolcollected Collected |
0.00 | 20-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Cairo Caper Cairo Prince |
0.00 | 8-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| scr |
|
Will Reign War of Will |
0.00 | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Special Session Constitution |
0.00 | 20-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 9 |
|
Al Qudra No Nay Never |
0.00 | 3-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 10 |
|
New Century Kameko |
0.00 | 6-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| scr |
|
Thread Twirling Candy |
0.00 |
1st, WO MSW (09/06/2024-R6) |
||
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, WO MSW (09/06/2024-R6) |
|||||
| scr |
|
Dewolf Silent Name |
0.00 | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
13 |
|
Forty N Five Uncle Mo |
0.00 | 20-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
14 |
|
Winterberry Frosted |
0.00 | 10-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
scr |
|
Latin Fever Equiano |
0.00 | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
16 |
|
Groot Collected |
0.00 | 20-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
scr |
|
Nitrogen Medaglia d’Oro |
0.00 | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | Morn. Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Annascaul American Pharoah |
0.00 | 3-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Italian Soiree Uncle Mo |
0.00 | 6-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Nitrogen Medaglia d’Oro |
0.00 | 10-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| scr |
|
Winterberry Frosted |
0.00 | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Ready To Battle War of Will |
0.00 | Mark E. Casse Oisin Murphy |
20-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Will Reign War of Will |
0.00 | 20-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
And One More Time Omaha Beach |
0.00 | 20-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Ready For Candy Twirling Candy |
0.00 | 12-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| scr |
|
Latin Fever Equiano |
0.00 | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 10 |
|
Arctic Velocity Volatile |
0.00 | 50-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 11 |
|
Vixen Vekoma |
0.00 | 10-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 12 |
|
Thread Twirling Candy |
0.00 |
1st, WO MSW (09/06/2024-R6) |
20-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, WO MSW (09/06/2024-R6) |
|||||
| 13 |
|
Mountain Breeze Lope de Vega |
0.00 | 5-2 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | Morn. Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Remuda More Than Ready |
4.45 |
2nd, CNL AOC (07/27/2024-R7) |
10-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
2nd, CNL AOC (07/27/2024-R7) |
|||||
| 2 |
|
Last American Exit Society’s Chairman |
0.00 |
6th, Pink Lloyd S. |
20-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
6th, Pink Lloyd S. |
|||||
| 3 |
|
I’m A Gambler No Nay Never |
0.00 |
3rd, Bold Venture S. |
3-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
3rd, Bold Venture S. |
|||||
| 4 |
|
Ironstone Mr Speaker |
5.94 | 12-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
War Bomber War Front |
4.79 | 4-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Rockcrest Old Forester |
4.79 |
4th, Vice Regent S. |
15-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
4th, Vice Regent S. |
|||||
| 7 |
|
Patches O’Houlihan Reload |
5.59 | 1-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start |
Morn. Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Libban Laoban |
6.05 | 10-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Elysian Field Hard Spun |
4.45 | 15-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Rosie’s Alibi Justify |
4.09 | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Affirmative Lady Arrogate |
4.84 |
6th, Caesar’s Wish S. |
20-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
6th, Caesar’s Wish S. |
|||||
| 5 |
|
Blueberry Fields Frac Daddy |
0.00 |
1st, WO AOC (08/17/2024-R5) |
20-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, WO AOC (08/17/2024-R5) |
|||||
| 6 |
|
Batucada Union Rags |
4.79 |
6th, Trillium S. Presented by Don Julio |
12-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
6th, Trillium S. Presented by Don Julio |
|||||
| 7 |
|
Sand and Sea Liam’s Map |
0.00 |
1st, Peony H. |
12-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, Peony H. |
|||||
| 8 |
|
Fashionably Fab Silent Name |
5.07 | 4-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 9 |
|
Solo Album Curlin |
3.79 |
1st, Trillium S. Presented by Don Julio |
3-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, Trillium S. Presented by Don Julio |
|||||
| 10 |
|
Sabatini Uncle Mo |
6.09 |
7th, Ontario Colleen S. |
8-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
7th, Ontario Colleen S. |
|||||
| 11 |
|
Forever Dixie Quality Road |
3.79 | 6-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| scr |
|
Tito’s Calling Society’s Chairman |
3.79 |
7th, Seaway S. |
||
|
Last Race Next Race |
7th, Seaway S. |
|||||
| 13 |
|
Ro Town Mo Town |
4.79 |
5th, Trillium S. Presented by Don Julio |
15-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
5th, Trillium S. Presented by Don Julio |
|||||
| 14 |
|
Metaphysical American Freedom |
0.00 |
4th, Seaway S. |
20-1 | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
4th, Seaway S. |
|||||
|
15 |
|
Ephrata Ghostzapper |
4.45 | 20-1 | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||