G1 Turf Champions Day: Rogers Woodbine Mile, bet365 Summer Stakes, and Johnnie Walker Natalma highlight exceptional stakes-laden Saturday card

TORONTO, September 10, 2025 – Automatic Breeders’ Cup berths are on the line as exceptional editions of the Rogers Woodbine Mile, bet365 Summer Stakes, and Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes – all Grade 1 events – headline Saturday’s Turf Champions Day card of racing at Woodbine.

The 29th running of the Mile, worth $1 million and contested over the inner turf, has attracted nine hopefuls. The Mile and the Natalma will be showcased on a live broadcast airing on Sportsnet One from 4:30-6:00 p.m. ET.

As part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series, the winners of the Woodbine Mile, $500,000 bet365 Summer Stakes and $500,000 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes will be entitled to automatic entry into their respective Breeders’ Cup races, to be contested at Del Mar on October 31 and November 1.

The nominated winners of each race will also be entitled to have pre-entry and entry fees waived for their 2025 Breeders’ Cup race or will receive a credit equal to the pre-entry and entry fee amount towards any other 2025 Breeders’ Cup Championship race. All horses will be entitled to receive a travel stipend if traveling from a base located outside the state of California.

This year’s renewals of the Mile, Natalma and Summer offer a blend of distinguished turf stars, local and international, as well as a plenitude of prominent owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys.

Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby will be looking to replicate their multiple Woodbine successes including when they hit the Canadian International (Walton Street (GB)), bet365 Summer (Albahr (GB)) and Johnnie Walker Natalma (Wild Beauty (GB)) trifecta in 2021. ​

In 2022, Godolphin and Appleby sent out multiple Group 1 winner Modern Games (IRE) to Woodbine Mile glory, which was followed by a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T). Mysterious Night (IRE) added to the day’s success with a win in the bet365 Summer.

One year later, Master of The Seas (IRE) gave Godolphin and Appleby their second straight Mile success.

This time, they are represented by Notable Speech (GB), produced by the Godolphin mare Swift Rose (IRE), a daughter of Invincible Spirit (IRE). The latter was a Group 1-winning sprinter who stands at the Irish National Stud.

The son of Dubawi (IRE) contested the first 10 races of his career at the one-mile distance, winning the 2000 Guineas (G1T) and the Sussex Stakes (G1T) at that distance in 2024 during his 3-year-old season, before closing out his campaign with a third-place finish, beaten just three-quarters of a length, in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) on November 2 at Del Mar.

“As is typical of his sire, from a physical aspect, he looks much stronger this year,” said Appleby. “I think this horse always puts his best foot forward but needs things to fall right for him on the day.”

In his 4-year-old debut, Notable Speech (GB) was fourth in the Lockinge Stakes (G1T) on May 17 at Newbury. Staying at the one-mile distance, he then headed to Royal Ascot for the Queen Anne Stakes (G1T) and finished fourth.

The chestnut then cut back to six furlongs for the July Cup (G1T) on July 12 at Newmarket, where he was fifth.

Back at one mile on August 17 at Deauville in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1T), Notable Speech (GB) rallied with vigor from the back of the 11-horse field to finish a head shy of Diego Velázquez (IRE) for all the spoils.

“We were delighted with his run here and it was good to see he still retains his enthusiasm for racing,” said Appleby. “Firstly, we hope he has travelled over okay and settles into his new routine.

“In his races, he prefers there to be decent pace as we saw when he won the Guineas and the Sussex Stakes.”

William Buick, aboard for the previous Godolphin and Appleby triumphs in the Mile, will make the trip to ride on Saturday.

A host of heavyweight contenders await Notable Speech (GB).

Dual hall of fame trainer Mark Casse sends out the accomplished duo Win for the Money, last year’s Woodbine Mile winner, and multiple graded stakes placed My Boy Prince.

A 6-year-old son of Moyhamen out of the War Chant mare Mayakoba, Win for the Money, owned by Live Oak Plantation, is 5-5-4 from 21 starts, along with $970,170 in purse earnings.

Bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Win for the Money, after his debut at Ellis Park, broke his maiden next time out at Woodbine on November 20, 2021, in a seven-furlong race over the main track.

His first stakes success came in the 2024 edition of the Mr. Steele at Gulfstream in May. That same year, he was fourth in the Wise Dan (G2T) at Churchill in June and second in the KY Downs Mint Millions Turf Mile Stakes at Ellis Park one month later.

The chestnut gelding heads into the Mile off a pair of thirds – the Kelso (G3T) on July 5 and the Fourstardave (G1T) on August 2.

“Those were on the inner turf at Saratoga, which is a lot like our turf course at Woodbine,” said Casse. “He ran good in both. I was expecting a big effort in the Kelso. I don’t know if he has given his very best, but he is coming in now in his third (race) of the cycle. A lot of the big handicappers will tell you the third one off the layoff is their best. That’s what we are looking for.”

Patrick Husbands, who won the 2001 Mile with Numerous Times, gets the call.

“I think you will see Patrick having Win for the Money up pretty close,” said Casse, who won the 2016 Woodbine Mile with Tepin in the 2017 running with World Approval. “I wasn’t surprised [at his win in last year’s Mile]. I was expecting big things from him and he didn’t disappoint. Patrick gave him a tremendous ride.”

Locksley Stephens is the groom.

My Boy Prince, Canada’s champion 2-year-old male, has crafted a 7-5-1 mark ($1,037,127) from 18 career starts.

The son of Cairo Prince out of the Silent Name (JPN) mare Hopping Not Hoping won the 2023 Simcoe Stakes and Cup and Saucer Stakes. He was also a strong third in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T). In 2024, he took three straight stakes, the King Corrie, Queenston and Plate Trial, and was a determined second in the King’s Plate.

His most recent stakes success came in the Elusive Quality at Belmont on May 3.

“He ran big,” praised Casse. “He was impressive. He likes a little harder turf. Now, going a mile on the inner turf – I think that is really going to be to his liking.”

The roan gelding was second in the Jaipur (G1T) on June 8, second, a neck back, in the Highlander (G2T) on June 28 and fourth in the Fourstardave (G1T) on August 2.

“He’s been running against the best,” said Casse. “I’m excited to see him run. I think he is really going to like the inner turf. He’s very good on sharp turns. If he puts in a good effort, he is going to be tough. Everybody is going to need a good trip.”

Ivan “Billy” Forde is the groom.

This year’s King Edward (G2T) winner Gas Me Up, stakes winner Hunt Master, stakes placed Naptown, multiple Group 1 winner One Stripe (SAF), multiple graded stakes placed and 2025 Niagara Stakes victor Stanley House, and graded stakes placed Wyoming Bill round out the field.

First-race post time for Saturday is 1:05 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com.

The wagering menu for the Woodbine Mile includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 9-10-11), 0.20 Pick 4 (Races 9-10-11-12), $1 Swinger.

Field for the $1 million Rogers Woodbine Mile – Race 9

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Stanley House – Leo Salles – Mike De Paulo

2 – Notable Speech (GB) – William Buick – Charles Appleby

3 – One Stripe (SAF) – John Velazquez – Graham Motion

4 – Hunt Master – Eswan Flores – Martin Hinckson (cross-entered in Vigil Stakes)

5 – Wyoming Bill – Frankie Dettori – Catherine Day Phillips

6 – My Boy Prince – Joel Rosario – Mark Casse

7 – Naptown – Victor Carrasco – Jose Magana

8 – Win for the Money – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

9 – Gas Me Up – Flavien Prat – Kevin Attard

Chris Lomon, Woodbine