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

TORONTO, September 11, 2024 – Automatic Breeders’ Cup berths are up for grabs as outstanding renewals of the Rogers Woodbine Mile, bet365 Summer Stakes, and Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes headline Saturday’s Turf Champions Day card of racing at Woodbine.

The 28th running of the Mile, worth $1 million and contested over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor turf, has attracted eight hopefuls. The Mile and the Summer will be showcased on a live broadcast airing on Sportsnet One from 5-6:30 p.m. ET.

As part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series, the Woodbine Mile winner will be entitled to automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Mile, to be contested on November 2 at Del Mar. The winner of the $500,000 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes, for 2-year-old fillies, will be entitled to automatic entry into the Juvenile Fillies Turf on November 1, while the winner of the $500,000 bet365 Summer Stakes, for 2-year-olds, receives the same opportunity for the Juvenile Turf, also run on November 1. The nominated winners of each race will also be entitled to have pre-entry and entry fees waived for their respective Breeders’ Cup races or will receive a credit equal to their pre-entry or entry fee amount towards any other Breeders’ Cup 2024 race. All horses will be entitled to receive a travel stipend if travelling from a base located outside of California.

This year’s editions of the Mile, Natalma and Summer feature a blend of accomplished turf talents, local and international standouts, as well as high-profile owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

Godolphin homebred Naval Power (GB) will look to shore up his impressive resume in his first race on Canadian turf.

The 4-year-old son of Teofilo (IRE)-Emirates Rewards (GB), who has constructed a record of 6-2-0 from nine starts, arrives at the Mile off a pair of strong runner-up performances in Grade 1 turf affairs, the Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland on April 12, won by stablemate and 2023 Woodbine Mile winner Master of The Seas (IRE), and the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on May 4, won by Program Trading.

“We have been delighted with his two runs in the USA to date, finishing second on both occasions to two top turf performers,” said Appleby.

Appleby expects Naval Power to take well to the E.P. Taylor course.

“Woodbine is a fair track and is always well maintained. 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.”

Naval Power launched his career with four straight triumphs, including a 6 ½-length score in the Pat Eddery in July of 2022 at Ascot.

The gelding’s only result outside of the top two was a sixth in the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst at Newcastle on October 8, 2022.

Naval Power’s most notable victory to date came in the Group 2 Singspiel at Meydan in the United Arab Emirates in his 4-year-old debut in February.

“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,” noted Appleby.

Godolphin and 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 five-time 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 former day’s success with a win in the bet365 Summer.

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

William Buick, aboard for both Mile triumphs, will make the trip to ride on Saturday.

Big Rock (FR) will make his first start in North America for trainer Maurizio Guarnieri.

The 4-year-old son of Rock of Gibraltar (IRE)-Hardiyna (IRE) enjoyed a banner 3-year-old campaign which yielded a Group 1 win, at Ascot, in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, along with three runner-up efforts at the Group 1 level, and a pair of Group 3 successes.

This year, however, the dark bay, bred and owned by Yeguada Centurion, has had a tough go in three starts.

He was sixth to open his campaign in the Group 1 Al Shabab Lockinge on May 18 at Newbury. One month later, he was tenth in the Group 1 Queen Anne at Ascot.

Big Rock comes into the Mile off a fifth in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on August 11.

Guarnieri believes a run over the E.P. Taylor turf could help turn around his charge’s fortunes.

“Yes, I hope. I believe Woodbine turf is suitable for European horses. He is a very calm and available horse.”

Sporting a mark of 5-5-0 from 14 starts, Big Rock will be partnered by Umberto Rispoli.

“In the races, Big Rock gives his best as a frontrunner,” noted Guarnieri. “He has the characteristics of a flier but runs the mile. He is strong with very good mental balance.”

Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse will send out Filo Di Arianna (BRZ), My Boy Prince and Win for the Money.

Filo Di Arianna is a four-time graded stakes winner for owners Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, and Peter Deutsch. He has won the King Edward (G2T) twice, in 2022 and 2024, this year’s Highlander (G2T), and the 2022 Connaught Cup (G2T).

The son of Drosselmeyer-Principessa Capri (BRZ) earned two 2022 Sovereign Awards as Canada’s champion male sprinter and champion male turf horse.

Bred by Stud Principessa di Capri, Filo Di Arianna is 9-3-1 from 17 starts and has recorded $615,528 in purse earnings.

Kazushi Kimura will be in the irons.

Wayne Grant is the groom.

My Boy Prince, Canada’s champion 2-year-old male, has crafted an impressive 6-3-1 mark from 11 career starts.

The multiple stakes winning son of Cairo Prince-Hopping Not Hoping won last year’s Simcoe Stakes and Cup and Saucer Stakes. This year, he took three straight stakes, the King Corrie, Queenston and Plate Trial.

He was a determined second in The King’s Plate on August 23.

“My Boy Prince is an amazing horse,” said jockey Sahin Civaci. “He is the kind of horse you dream of riding. You know that he will give his all every time.”

“This horse just doesn’t give a hoot about much,” said Casse, who won the 2016 and 2017 editions of the Mile with Tepin and World Approval, respectively.  “You sure wouldn’t look at him and think that he’s some superstar. He saves it all for on the track.”

Ivan Forde is the groom.

Casse’s other starter comes in the form of Win for the Money.

A 5-year-old son of Moyhamen-Mayakoba owned by Live Oak Plantation, the multiple graded stakes placed gelding is 4-5-1 from 15 starts.

Bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Win for the Money, after a 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 other two starts at the Woodbine came last fall when he was third in the Autumn Stakes (G2) and second in the Valedictory (G3).

This year, he won the Mr. Steele Stakes (Black Type) at Gulfstream in May, was fourth in the Wise Dan (G2T) at Churchill in June and was second in the KY Downs Mint Millions Turf Mile Stakes at Ellis Park on August 3.

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

“Win for the Money is a very versatile horse,” said Husbands. “He’s getting better and better with each race.”

Alvin King is the groom.

Veteran campaigner Niagara Skyline, who calls the Woodbine backstretch home, is in fine form ahead of the Mile.

Trained by John Charalambous, the 6-year-old son of War Dancer-Expressly Yours has reached the podium in all three of his 2024 starts.

After a third, only three-quarters of a length behind the winner, in a five-furlong sprint over the Toronto oval’s inner turf, Niagara Skyline was runner-up, missing by a neck, over seven panels on the E.P. Taylor turf on June 16.

The bay gelding took to the inner turf again in his latest test and went back to the barn a 1 ½-length winner at 7 ½ furlongs on July 28.

“He is a consummate professional, both in his training and temperament,” said Charalambous. “He’s a wonderful horse to be around.”

Owned by Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch, Niagara Skyline was bred in Ontario by James Everatt, Janeane Everatt and Arika Everatt-Meeuse.

Fashioning a record of 6-5-2 from 24 starts, accompanied by $250,492 in earnings, Niagara Skyline was a $6,000 (CDN) purchase at the 2019 CTHS Winter Mixed Sale.

Cheryl Dagg is the groom.

Playmea Tune, a Chiefswood Stables homebred, has a record of 2-1-0 from three starts.

Trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Josie Carroll, the 4-year-old son of Maclean’s Music-Fifth Overture got his career out of the gates in grand fashion when he romped to an 11-length score at six furlongs over the Woodbine main track on May 24.

The bay gelding came back with a 5 ½-length victory at 6 ½ furlongs on the Toronto oval main track next time out on July 7.

In his first stakes test, the 6 ½-furlong Grade 3 Bold Venture, Playmea Tune rallied stoutly to finish second, just a neck back of the winner, sprint star Patches O’Houlihan.

Mohammed Elias is the groom.

A $9,000 (CDN) purchase at the 2019 CTHS Canadian Premier Yearling Sale, Secret Reserve is trained by Mike Mattine for owners Carlo D’Amato and Stacey Van Camp.

The resume of the 6-year-old son of Giant Gizmo-Smart Suzie, who brings a record of 6-1-8 from 26 starts into the Mile, includes stakes victories in the 2021 editions of the Elgin and Lake Superior, the 2022 Bold Venture (G3), and last year’s Steady Growth.

Last time out, in the King Edward Stakes (G2T), Secret Reserve, at 44-1, kept on for third in the one-mile affair over good going on the E.P. Taylor turf.

“He’s a happy horse,” said Mattine. “He ran a very nice race last time against some very tough competition. It’s going to be tougher this time, but he’s doing great. His exercise rider, Elvis Kellman, is happy with him too. Hopefully, this horse can come up with a big effort on Saturday.”

Hardeo Bhulpaul is the groom.

First-race post time for Saturday is 1:10 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com.

Field for the $1 million Rogers Woodbine Mile (Race 10)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Playmea Tune – John Velazquez – Josie Carroll

2 – Naval Power (GB) – William Buick – Charles Appleby

3 – Secret Reserve – Leo Salles – Mike Mattine

4 – Big Rock (FR) – Umberto Rispoli – Maurizio Guarnieri

5 – Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

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

7 – Niagara Skyline – Rafael Hernandez – John Charalambous

8 – My Boy Prince – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

Chris Lomon, Woodbine