Because the Breeders’ Cup World Championships proceed to take form, all eyes will shift to Woodbine Sept. 14 for its massive day of racing that features three Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence races.
The dozen races on the Saturday card function six graded stakes, together with 4 grade 1 occasions. Of these grade 1 races, three carry Breeders’ Cup “Win & You are” in standing with the CA$500,000 Summer season Stakes (G1T) awarding a fees-paid spot within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), the CA500,000 Natalma Stakes (G1T) offering a spot within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), and the CA$1 million Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T) awarding a begin within the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T).
In additional leaning right into a big-day strategy, this yr’s card options the addition of the CA$750,000 E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T), which beforehand had been run three weeks later. Whereas the E. P. Taylor isn’t a part of the Problem collection, the 1 1/4-mile turf race for fillies and mares actually might produce a Breeders’ Cup starter or two. Moira , who earned a inserting in final yr’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T), enters off a victory within the Beverly D. Stakes (G2T) at Colonial Downs.
Noting he has prepped at Woodbine for a few of his largest Breeders’ Cup and traditional wins, Racing Corridor of Fame coach Mark Casse has entered runners in all 4 grade 1 occasions Saturday at Woodbine. He has eight runners entered within the Natalma, maybe topped by debut winners Winterberry and Latin Fever ; within the E. P. Taylor he has Fev Rover , who will attempt to defend her 2023 win.
Counting also-eligibles and cross-entered horses, Casse has 9 entered within the Summer season Stakes, together with stakes-placed winner Dream On ; and within the Woodbine Mile he has entered the trio of Filo Di Arianna , Win for the Cash , and My Boy Prince .
The Woodbine Mile is a well-worn path to the Breeders’ Cup Mile, with its previous two winners sweeping each races in Godolphin homebreds Grasp of The Seas final yr and Fashionable Video games in 2022. Casse swept the races in 2017 with World Approval whereas Tepin gained the Breeders’ Cup Mile in 2015 for the coach then gained the Woodbine Mile in 2016, a yr she simply missed a repeat within the Breeders’ Cup when an in depth second to Vacationer  at Santa Anita Park.
“It is a terrific, nice weekend of racing,” Casse stated of Saturday’s Woodbine card. “I simply can by no means say sufficient nice issues about Woodbine. It is a terrific place to race. It is a terrific place to coach. Should you take a look at it, I feel for 5 of my six Breeders’ Cup winners Woodbine was instrumental in attending to the Breeders’ Cup—and successful.”
In addition to Tepin and World Approval, Casse-trained Shamrock Rose gained the La Lorgnette Stakes at Woodbine and Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland forward of her 2018 rating within the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Dash (G1). Catch a Glimpse gained the 2015 Natalma earlier than taking the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland.
“I have been everywhere in the North America—California to South Florida. There’s a whole lot of nice locations to race, nice locations to coach,” Casse stated. “However for my part, there isn’t any higher place than Woodbine.”
As standard, Saturday’s Woodbine fields function quite a few European-trained runners that ought to each take a look at the North American-based runners whereas offering some nuggets for handicappers sizing up the strengths of this yr’s grass runners from all corners of the globe.
Amongst these runners, Godolphin will attempt for a 3rd straight Woodbine Mile win with Naval Energy , who’s listed because the even-money favourite on the morning line. Within the spring the son of Teofilo completed second in each the Turf Basic Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs and the Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland.
Naval Energy (heart ) finishes second within the Turf Basic Stakes at Churchill Downs
Within the E. P. Taylor, Godolophin has entered Cinderella’s Dream , who captured this yr’s Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) and the Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T). The daughter of Shamardal additionally boasts wins in Dubai and England. Within the Natalma, Mountain Breeze , a gaggle 2-placed daughter of Lope de Vega for Godolphin, is scheduled to make her North Amercian debut. Al Qudra , a stakes winner for Godolphin, is scheduled to make his North American debut within the Summer season.
“Having the eyes of the Thoroughbred racing world on Woodbine for this Saturday’s distinctive card is actually thrilling,” stated Woodbine CEO Michael Copeland. “We take immense pleasure in our world-renowned E. P. Taylor Turf Course, so to have 4 grade 1 turf races, three of that are Breeders’ Cup ‘Win & You are In’Â occasions, all on the identical day is likely one of the finest showcases possible.
“It is well-known that when individuals see the Woodbine model, they consider our turf racing and a day like this coming Saturday. An enormous thanks to our racing crew for placing collectively such an impressive card and to the house owners, trainers, jockeys, and everybody else concerned for his or her contributions to what guarantees to be a tremendous day of racing.”
Cinderella’s Dream and William Buick win the Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes at Saratoga Racecourse
