By J.N. Campbell
Leading the graded stakes action on Saturday, there is something gruff and boomy about the barbaric 'yalp' of the European invaders who are set to swarm Woodbine's gates on Turf Champions Day.
One can understand this hoard's verve as the booty is worth pillaging since three out of the four Grade I races on the docket are connected to some highly-prized Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' tickets.
Euros Wind Trebuchets
Out of this auspicious Canadian slate, first up is the GI Natalma Stakes which offers entry into the GI John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
It is evident that Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse holds the numbers edge with eight of the thirteen entrants. Out of these, if Thread (Twirling Candy) chooses to run here instead of against the boys in the GI bet365 Summer Stakes, she could have an edge after she broke her maiden by 5 1/2 at second asking while sprinting over the all-weather in Toronto Sept. 6.
Roadblocking Casse's drive is Christophe Clement runner Annascaul (American Pharoah) who appears prepared for her first high level test. The New York-bred was a solid three length winner on debut at Saratoga Aug. 14.
This full field though is going to have to contend with morning-line favorite and Godolphin homebred Mountain Breeze (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who trainer Charlie Appleby has sent up against some challenging English competition. The half-sister to European champion 2-year-old colt Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) was fourth in the G3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, finished as the runner-up in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket July 12 and once again was second best over the same grass surface in the G3 Solera Stakes Aug. 10.
“She [Mountain Breeze] has settled into her new training regime well and she has looked very comfortable in her track work,” said Charlie 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.”
The Woodbine Saturday card does not get any easier for the locals in the Summer Stakes as Godolphin's Al Qudra (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Qatar Racing's New Century (GB) (Kameko) seek to pillage a pass to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. The former won the Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot in late July, while the latter was the runner-up in that race before taking home the Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury in mid-August.
The signature GI Rogers Woodbine Mile occupies a special place in North American turf racing history and this edition sports a clear favorite in Godolphin homebred Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). The 4-year-old gelding will be the favorite to punch his own ticket to the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile and he seems ready to take home his first North American Grade I win after serving as the runner-up in the GI Makers Mark Mile at Keeneland in April and the GI Turf Classic at Churchill on the Derby undercard.
Naval Power | Dubai Racing Club
“Woodbine is a fair track and is always well maintained,” said Appleby. “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. 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.”
Casse is not without chances as he enters both MGSW Filo Di Arianna (Brz) (Drosselmeyer) and Sovereign Award winner My Boy Prince (Cairo Prince).
It would not be a Turf Champions Day in Toronto without the GI E.P. Taylor Stakes, which pound for pound might be the best race of the entire weekend. There is quality here with the last two Canadian Horses of the Year present in Moira (Ghostzapper) and Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}).
“The E.P. Taylor has always been on her calendar,” said Moira's trainer Kevin 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.”
If that is not enough for you, then Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) should impress after the Appleby trainee swept the GI Belmont Oaks and GI Saratoga Oaks this summer at the NYRA tracks. The 3-year-old Godolphin homebred has only lost once over seven races. Rounding out the six-horse field is French GSW Blush (Ire) (Kingman {Ire}), Canadian MGSW Full Count Felicia (War Front) and French MG1SW Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}).
The Road Taken
After some point tweaks to the format, the 2025 Derby and Oaks roads are open for business as Churchill Downs's pair of races on Saturday are all about the trail to May.
The GIII Pocahontas Stakes might turn out to be a slugfest for Oaks points between the three fillies who are drawn to the outside. Bred and owned by the Collinsworths of Texas, Stilettos (Upstart) broke her maiden at Lone Star Park by a country mile under Bret Calhoun in late June, then won the Debutante Stakes at Ellis Park Aug. 11.
To her outside is Kimchi Cat (Twirling Candy), who won second out at Saratoga in mid-July and did not miss the turf when she netted the Bolton Landing Stakes upstate Aug. 18. Both may have to keep their eye on debut winner Liam in the Dust (Liam's Map) who delivered as a well-backed favorite at Ellis in August.
Kimchi Cat | Sarah Andrew
Switching over to the boys, a bunch of Derby dreamers are hoping their stars align in the renewal of the GIII Iroquois Stakes. Speaking of astronomical phenoms, Jonathan's Way (Vekoma) charted a late run at first asking in Saratoga Springs Aug. 17 and the performance earned Rigney Racing's dark bay a 'TDN Rising Star' for his effort.
Out of the eleven other colts in this field, Owen Almighty (Speightstown) could pose the biggest threat. The bay took to the dirt under the Twin Spires on debut and won by 3 1/2 lengths, and then drew off to take the Juvenile Stakes at Ellis Aug. 11.
Finally, Authentic Strike (Authentic) looks to hand his freshman sire his first stakes win, and trainer Dale Romans has entered Mesero in a spot he has won four times. The grey's sire took home the 2016 Iroquois for the Hall of Famer–Not This Time.
The Big A Is Back
Venerable Aqueduct is up once again since Belmont is still under construction, and their graded Saturday offering is the GIII Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over the grass. Even though there is no overwhelming morning-line favorite, LNJ Foxwoods's Mixologist (Frosted) could be the standout despite being elevated from second to first after a disqualification against optional claimers at the Spa Aug. 16.
Opposing her, will be German import Lady Mary (Ger) (Lawman {Fr}) who was last seen running third in the G1 German Oaks at Dusseldorf in early August and makes her U.S. debut for trainer Jack Sisterson.
Also making the gate and hoping the stretch out suits is Godolphin homebred Beautiful Love (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}). The Appleby trainee appears poised to avenge her sixth-place finish in the GII Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 17.
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