By Alan Carasso
Mark Casse-trained horses ran 1-2-3-5 in the first of Saturday's Grade I events at Woodbine, the Natalma Stakes, led by Live Oak's And One More Time (Omaha Beach). The barn accounted for the exacta in the day's final elite-level affair when 13-1 Win for the Money (Mohaymen) slipped through at the fence following a ground-saving journey to upend pacesetting stablemate Filo Di Arianna (Brz) (Drosselmeyer) in the GI Rogers Woodbine Mile and punch his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2.
Content to linger towards the back of the field as Filo Di Arianna took them along through fractions of :23.05 and :45.44, the $375,000 graduate of the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale traveled strongly along the inside and nicely in hand for Patrick Husbands approaching the entrance to the 2 1/2-furlong straight. Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), the 1-2 chalk, looked ready to pounce from just off the speed and the blinkered Big Rock (Fr) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) began to find his best stride to loom a threat, but Win for the Money sustained his rails rally, took over a sixteenth of a mile from home and edged clear.
It was the third Woodbine Mile for Casse, who saddled the great Tepin (Bernstein) to beat the boys in 2016 and Live Oak's World Approval (Northern Afleet) in 2017. Live Oak won the 2006 GI Breeders' Cup Mile with champion Miesque's Approval (With Approval).
“I must say, I give out respect to Mark [Casse],” said Husbands, whose other Mile triumph came in 2001 with Numerous Times (Numerous). “I had a perfect trip. I figured, from reading the Racing Form, if I come off the pace, it's my best chance. So, when he breaks, and he breaks so relaxed, I was happy.
“I was behind [jockey, William] Buick, he has a nice horse (Naval Power), and I knew when it's time for him to go, I just got to follow him. So, he followed him the whole way.”
Twice placed in graded events over the local synth last term, the chestnut returned off a December layoff to street them in the May 25 Mr. Steele Stakes at Gulfstream, scoring by 6 3/4 lengths. A pace-compromised fourth in the GII Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill June 29, the gelding was stepping up off a runner-up effort in the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Mile at Ellis Park Aug. 3.
Pedigree Notes:
Win for the Money is the first Grade I winner for Mohaymen and his third winner at the graded level overall.
A half-brother to Price Talk, a stakes winner on turf and dirt, Win for the Money is out of a half-sister to Juniper Pass (Lemon Drop Kid), who excelled at turf marathon trips, and Charming Kid (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), Group 2-placed over six furlongs in England. Win for the Money's fourth dam is Terlingua, most recognizable as the dam of the legendary and influential Storm Cat.
Mayakoba produced a colt by Animal Kingdom in Saudi Arabia in 2020 after being purchased for $3,000 at the previous year's Keeneland November Sale. The mare's last listed produce is a 2-year-old colt by Bird Song.
Saturday, Woodbine
ROGERS WOODBINE MILE S.-GI, C$1,008,000, Woodbine, 9-14, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:32.11, fm.
1–WIN FOR THE MONEY, 122, g, 5, by Mohaymen
1st Dam: Mayakoba, by War Chant
2nd Dam: Child Bride, by Coronado's Quest
3rd Dam: Chapel of Dreams, by Northern Dancer
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($95,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL; $350,000 2yo '21 FTFMAR). O-Live Oak Plantation; B-Kenneth L. Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Patrick Husbands. C$600,000. Lifetime Record: 16-5-5-1, $794,997. *1/2 to Price Talk (Kitten's Joy), MSW, $389,049. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Filo Di Arianna (Brz), 124, g, 8, Drosselmeyer–Principessa Capri (Brz), by Northern Afleet. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch; B-Stud Principessa di Capri (BRZ); T-Mark E. Casse. C$200,000.
3–Big Rock (Fr), 124, c, 4, Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)–Hardiyna (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). O/B-Yeguada Centurion (FR); T-Maurizio Guarnieri. C$100,000.
Margins: 1HF, NK, 1. Odds: 13.65, 6.95, 5.90.
Also Ran: Naval Power (GB), Playmea Tune, My Boy Prince, Secret Reserve, Niagara Skyline.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Win for the Money secures the money 💰 & a spot in the @FanDuel_Racing #BreedersCup Mile with victory in the #WinAndYoureIn Rogers Woodbine Mile! Cheers to the connections!
J: Patrick Husbands
T: @markecasse
O: Live Oak Plantation
B: Kenneth L. Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey pic.twitter.com/MnfXQbSJpe— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) September 14, 2024
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
