With a trio of Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In’’ races on a packed stakes card at Woodbine, Hall of Famer Mark Casse loaded up for all three.
The Canadian trainer came away with victories in the $1 million Woodbine Mile (G1) and the $500,000 Natalma Stakes (G1) on Saturday, with European invaders running 1-2 in the $500,000 Summer Stakes (G1).
Casse’s crew ran 1-2-3 in the Natalma with And One More Time at 16-1 winning, followed by Vixen and Nitrogen; in the Woodbine Mile it was Casse’s Win for the Money beating stablemate Filo Di Arianna.
New Century, an England-bred trained by Andrew Balding, beat Ireland-bred Al Qudra by 1 ¼ lengths in the Summer Stakes.
Also on the card was the $750,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1), which was supposed to be another Moira-Fev Rover (trained by Casse) showdown.
But it was Full Count Felicia who shot to a lead of as many as 19 lengths after three-quarters of a mile and won the 1 ¼-mile race by 3 ½ lengths over Moira, with Fev Rover third.
For those who bet horse racing, here’s a recap:
Win for the Money clinched an all-fees paid automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2 with a 1 ½-length win.
Jockey Patrick Husbands moved the 5-year-old son of Mohaymen to the rail early, steadily moved into contention in the eight-horse field, and drew clear with a furlong to go.
WIN FOR THE MONEY!
He’s IN the @BreedersCup Mile thanks to victory in the Woodbine Mile. What a day for @markecasse! #Bc24 #WAYI
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) September 14, 2024
Sent off at 13-1, Win for the Money returned $29.30 on a $2 win bet. Winning time for the mile over firm turf was 1:32.11.
Husbands, recently inducted in the Canadian racing Hall of Fame, said:
Win for the Money is 16-5-5-1 for owner Live Oak Plantation.
As for the Breeders’ Cup, Casse’s assistant Kathryn Sullivan said: “It’s a possibility, I would think.”
Casse trained six of the 11 starters in the 1-mile Natalma, so his odds were pretty good – and they paid off for horseplayers who went with 16-1 longshot And One More Time ($35.40).
“She just ran wonderfully—a lot of heart," said Casse's assistant trainer Kathryn Sullivan. "We knew from her race at Saratoga we had a special filly, but I think she really proved it today.”
The win earned the daughter by Omaha Beach an all-fees automatic spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1. It was Casses’ eighth Natalma victory.
Rafael Hernandez was aboard, with the winning time for the mile 1:33.99.
New Century and Al Qudra got rolling in the stretch, bumped with each other slightly, but New Century carried on to beat his Euro rival by 1 ¼ lengths.
Ridden by Oisin Murphy, the 2-year-old colt trained by Andrew Balding, covered the mile in 1:32.80 and returned $8.10 as the 3-1 second choice in the field of 10.
The win earned New Century an all-fees paid automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
“The inside horse (Dream On) ducked out, and William (Al Qudra’s rider, William Buick) and I tried to have one smooth challenge down the center of the track, said Murphy.
About the Breeders’ Cup, Murphy said: “The Qatar racing team with Andrew found this race, and obviously it made sense timing-wise for the Breeders’ Cup. Now he’s going to have to be sharper at Del Mar, but he has the class, and hopefully he can step up again.”
Kevin Attard, who trains Moira, also trains Full Count Felicia. And it was Full Count Felicia who sped to the lead, opened up by an amazing 19 lengths after three quarters of a mile and won by 3 ½ lengths over Moira.
Kazushi Kimura was aboard for the ride. The winner, owned by Gold Square LLC, returned $17.80 as the fourth choice in the field of five. Winning time was 1:59.29 for the 1 ¼ miles on the turf.
“Never in a million years,” a surprised Attard said. “I thought Fev Rover and Full Count Felicia would, kind of, you know, duke it out a little bit early.
“She set an honest pace, I thought. And you know, the I looked around at the three-eighths, and she had an insurmountable lead, and I’m thinking, ‘Is she gonna stop?’ Like, she’d have to come to a dead walk at this point.”
Moira was seeking her first Grade 1; Fev Rover, trained by Casse, finished fourth in the five-horse field. Moira and Fev Rover faced each other for the seventh time. Moira holds a 4-3 edge.
Moira and Fev Rover recently finished 1-2, a head apart, in the Beverly D. Stakes (G2) at Colonial Downs.
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.
