Three winners on Woodbine Racetrack's Turf Champions Day on Saturday will punch their tickets to the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on October 31 and November 2.
The three Grade 1 stakes on the program are Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” stakes that award the winner an automatic spot in the season-ending championships at Del Mar.
The three races, and their corresponding Breeders’ Cup events are the $1 million Woodbine Mile (Breeders’ Cup Mile), the $500,000 Summer Stakes (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf) and the $500,000 Natalma Stakes (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf).
While the horses look to secure their Breeders’ Cup berths, let’s see if we can spot some winners to brighten our day.
Let’s start with the Woodbine Mile where Notable Speech, the 8-5 favorite, looms large.
British trainer Charlie Appleby is a master at targeting and winning major North American stakes. He has already posted Woodbine Mile wins with Master of the Seas and Modern Games. Since we are north of the border, this looks like the spot to complete the "Appleby Woodbine Mile" hat trick.
Both Master of the Seas and Modern Games went on to victory in the Breeders’ Cup, so there is a strong precedent to expect more success.
Notable Speech towers over the field with his $1.7 million in career earnings and multiple Grade 1 wins in Europe. He missed by only a head last time out in the Prix Jacques Le Marois (G1) in France and will have usual pilot William Buick aboard.
The 4-year-old was third last year in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, beaten less than a length as the 2-1 favorite.
“As is typical of his sire (Dubawi), from a physical aspect, he looks much stronger this year," Appleby said. “I think this horse always puts his best foot forward but needs things to fall right for him on the day.”
The main competition could come from the trainer Mark Casse duo of Win for the Money (8-1), last year’s Woodbine Mile winner in a 13-1 upset, and My Boy Prince (10-1).
Win for the Money returned to pick up a pair of thirds against salty stakes competition at Saratoga.
“Those were on the inner turf at Saratoga, which is a lot like our turf course at Woodbine,” said Casse. “He ran good in both. I don’t know if he has given his very best, but he is coming in now in his third (race) of the cycle. A lot of the big handicappers will tell you the third one off the layoff is their best. That’s what we are looking for.”
My Boy Prince has also been tackling some of the big boys at Saratoga.
“He’s been running against the best,” said Casse. “I’m excited to see him run. I think he is really going to like the inner turf. He’s very good on sharp turns. If he puts in a good effort, he is going to be tough. Everybody is going to need a good trip.”
Now on to the 2-year-old stakes:
The draw certainly helped Argos (8-1) when he landed the rail for the 1-mile test on the inner turf course in the Summer Stakes.
Tactically that’s the place to be. He landed the outside post in the Soaring Free Stakes, the prep for the Summer and held third despite an extremely wide trip.
He gets a boost from Flavien Prat who returns to ride for trainer Riley Mott.
Trainer Kevin Attard sends out three undefeated colts including Two Out Hero (the 3-1 second choice), the winner of the Soaring Free. That afternoon, Two Out Hero had the tactical advantage from the rail. Here he is midpack.
The Attard trio includes Bill of Ice (20-1) and Marcus J (12-1).
Don’t overlook Appleby in this spot with Wild Desert, the 5-2 favorite.
For those who bet horse racing ...
The fillies complete the stakes trio in the Natalma and once again Appleby looms large with Dance To The Music (the 2-1 favorite). She is a perfect 2-for-2 at Newmarket running 7 furlongs on a straight course.
Can she navigate a two-turn mile? We’ll find out, but betting against Appleby and his powerful barn of Godolphin homebreds is never a good tactic.
Dyna (10-1) earned respect with her maiden effort, a loss to the boys by only a nose. She flattened out a bit running third in the Catch A Glimpse Stakes after switching from inside to the extreme outside. The potential is there.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
