Woodbine

Heading into Saturday's final jewel in Canada's 2020 Triple Crown, trainer Josie Carroll appeared poised to collect the 129th renewal of the Breeders' S. And while most thought that Queen's Plate S. and Prince of Wales S. hero Mighty Heart (Dramedy) was the most likely to accomplish the feat as even-money choice, it was his stablemate Belichick (Lemon Drop Kid) who landed the Canadian Classic in fine style. Given a 3-1 chance here, Belichick raced two wide in mid-pack as his favored barnmate-prompted by longshot Kunal (Temple City)--blazed through swift...

Helium backed up a sharp and fast track-and-trip debut score Sept. 27 to dominate Sunday's Display S. at Woodbine and become the first black-type winner for his freshman sire (by Distorted Humor). Off as the narrow 7-5 favorite over fellow impressive debut winner Maclean's Posse, the bay broke well and took up a stalking spot off the inside as his chief market rival took heat from two foes through splits of :23.65 and :46.40. Helium advanced ominously while out wide heading for home, and found another gear when called upon...

Etoile, a beaten favorite in her two prior North American starts after being transferred to Chad Brown, came through with a victory in Sunday's GI E.P. Taylor S. at Woodbine, giving red-hot Siyouni (Fr) another top-level success in the same Peter Brant colors as that stallion's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Sottsass (Fr). Two-for-two to open her account for Jean-Claude Rouget last winter at Cagnes-sur-Mer, the bay was a neck runner-up in Longchamp's G3 Prix Vanteaux before annexing the G3 Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud. A close fourth in...

Say the Word uncorked a last-to-first rally in Sunday's GI Northern Dancer S. at Woodbine to post a mild upset. The dark bay dropped out the back under Emma-Jayne Wilson as favorite Admiralty Pier did as he pleased up front. He was ridden for more to inch slightly closer heading for the home as stablemate and fellow Sam-Son representative Count Again (Awesome Again) took the first run at the pacesetter. Admiralty Pier and Count Again continued to trade jabs to midstretch, but neither had any response for Say the Word...

'TDN Rising Star' Souper Sensational (Curlin) made it two wins from as many trips to the races with a highly impressive victory in Saturday's Glorious Song S. at Woodbine. Favored at 3-5 to add to a facile 2 1/4-length debut success in a salty local maiden Sept. 26, the $725,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate was outfooted early, but mustered speed up the inside to lead prior to the entrance to the turn. Skipping along nicely into the final two furlongs despite some pressure to her outside, Souper Sensational pinched a winning...

The top three finishers in this summer's GII Dance Smartly S. regroup in Sunday's GI E.P. Taylor S. at Woodbine. Leading the fray in the Aug. 15 event, Augustin Stable's Theodora B. (Ghostzapper) used the 10-furlong test as a stepping stone to a front-running victory in the 10 1/2-panel TVG S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 15. Three for four this season--the sole off-the-board finish was registered on Woodbine's synthetic surface--the 5-year-old is trained Michael Dickinson. Peter Brant, Mrs. M V Magnier and Mrs. Paul Shanahan's Etoile (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) finished...

Sam-Son Farm's Count Again (Awesome Again) will try to add his third win of the season in Sunday's 12-furlong GI Northern Dancer Turf S. at Woodbine. A second-out winner going a mile for trainer Neil Howard at Keeneland last fall, the gelding won his sole start for Kent Sweezey in a Tampa allowance in April before finishing third for current trainer Gail Cox in an 8 1/2-furlong Woodbine optional claimer in June. Just missing in second behind Woodbridge (Langfuhr) while stretching to 10 panels at the Etobicoke oval Aug. 29,...

8th-Woodbine, C$83,390, Msw, 10-8, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f (AWT), 1:03.38, ft, 5 1/2 lengths. CALIFORNIA LILY (f, 2, California Chrome--Wildcat Lily {GSW & MGISP, $477,165}, by D'wildcat) was favored at first asking by just less than $2,000 and became the sixth winner for her freshman sire (by Lucky Pulpit) with an impressive debut success in Thursday's finale from Woodbine. Quickly into stride beneath Rafael Hernandez, the blaze-faced chestnut set the pace with a bit of pressure to her outside for the opening couple of furlongs. But she pinched a break...

Sent off the 1.35-1 favorite in what appeared to be an above-average Woodbine maiden Saturday afternoon, Live Oak Plantation's Souper Sensational (Curlin) lived up to her name at first asking, pulling confidently clear to graduate by a bit more than two lengths in a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy performance. Beaten for speed, the $725,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad sat the box seat from third, but traveled nicely on the bridle, with her chief market rival-'Rising Star' Shirl's Speight's full-sister Speightstown Shirl (Speightstown)--lapped to her outside. The Fipke homebred got first run on...

Coming off a win in the Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' GI Woodbine Mile S. with 2019 Canadian Horse of the Year Starship Jubilee, trainer Kevin Attard joins the TDN Writers' Room to discuss the filly claimed three years ago who is now a multi-millionaire.

Chuck Fipke's Lady Speightspeare, named a 'TDN Rising Star' for an impressive frontrunning debut victory, backed that distinction up with a gusty success in Sunday's GI Natalma S. at Woodbine, punching her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in the "Win and You're In" event. Unveiled as a 22-5 chance going seven furlongs over this course Aug. 22, the chestnut dictated terms and drew away down the lane to a 3 3/4-length graduation, with the runner-up also finishing six clear of the remainder. Drilling a sharp five-furlong...

Gretzky the Great (Nyquist), who became freshman sire Nyquist (Uncle Mo)'s first stakes winner in August, became his second Grade I winner less than a month later with a victory in Sunday's GI Summer S. at Woodbine. The score in the "Win and You're In" event punched Gretzky the Great's ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and gave Japanese-born jockey Kazushi Kimura his first career Grade I triumph. Unveiled going five furlongs on the local turf July 12, the Ontario-bred was runner-up to re-opposing rival Ready to Repeat...