Nominations released for Woodbine’s Turf Champions Day

TORONTO, August 28, 2026 – Woodbine Entertainment today released the nominations for Woodbine Racetrack’s Turf Champions Day on Saturday, September 12, featuring four Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series races on the world renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

Turf Champions Day will put the eyes of the racing world on Woodbine for the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes, Grade 1 bet365 Summer Stakes and Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes.

The $1 million Woodbine Mile, a Challenge Series race for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, has an eye-catching group of 16 nominees, including last year’s winner Notable Speech (GB) and four-time Grade 1 winner Deterministic.

Godolphin and Charlie Appleby’s five-year-old star Notable Speech (GB) followed up last year’s victory by capturing the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar.

Notable Speech (GB) returned to the UK after a fourth place effort on April 10 in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1T) at Keeneland and has since won two of three starts, including the Group 1 City of York in his most recent race on August 22.

Godolphin has nominated four to the Woodbine Mile. Joining Notable Speech (GB) is Group 1 winner Opera Ballo (IRE), and Group 1 placed Talk of New York (GB). Only Notable Speech (GB) has raced in North America.

Superstar Deterministic has been nominated by owners St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable. The Miguel Clement trained five-year-old has won six consecutive graded stakes races dating back to May 2025.

Scheduled to stand stud at Lane’s End following his racing career, Deterministic has won four straight Grade 1 events, capturing both of Saratoga’s Manhattan Stakes and Fourstardave Stakes in back-to-back years.

Also nominated is Kevin Attard trained Gas Me Up (third in last year’s Woodbine Mile and recent winner of the Grade 2 King Edward), Wathnan Racing’s Archivist (GB) (recent Group 3 winner at York), Saffie Joseph Jr. trained Gran Oriente (CHI) (recent runner-up in the Grade 1 Arlington Million), and Jack Sisterson trained mare Vina Arana (IRE) (recent winner of the Grade 2 Nassau).

To view the full list of nominees to the Woodbine Mile, click here.

The $750,000 Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes, at 1 ¼ miles Challenge Series event for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, received 21 nominations.

The race has shifted dates in recent years and now lands on Turf Champions Day, marking the first time Woodbine has offered all four Grade 1 races on the same day.

Godolphin’s Diamond Rain (GB) could have an opportunity at redemption in the E.P. Taylor after finishing second by a head to She Feels Pretty in a thriller last August. Diamond Rain (GB) then finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Del Mar. She most recently won a stakes contest at York on July 24.

Trainer Graham Motion has nominated three to the E.P. Taylor, led by multiple graded stakes winner Gimme a Nother (SF), who recently won the Beverly D. (GT2) at Colonial Downs to extend a current win streak to three. Warming is another multiple graded stakes winner that captured the Yellow Ribbon (G2T) at Del Mar on August 8. His final nominee is Vronti (GB), who is also a stakes winner last time out at Del Mar on August 16.

Brad Cox trained Grade 1 winner Fionn is nominated to the E.P. Taylor for owners George Messina and Michael Lee. In total, Cox has three nominated with multiple Grade 1 placed Bless the Broken and graded stakes winner Stellify joining Fionn on the list.

To view the full list of nominees to the E.P. Taylor Stakes, click here.

The $500,000 bet365 Summer Stakes for two-year-olds and the $500,000 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes for two-year-old fillies will shine a spotlight on racing’s newest stars. Each race is contested at one mile over the famed E.P. Taylor Turf.

Nominations for the bet365 Summer Stakes, a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, came in at 29. The Johnnie Walker Natalma, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, received 27 nominations.

To view the nominations for the bet 365 Summer Stakes, click here.

To view the nominations for the Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes, click here.

For the latest on Turf Champions Day and everything happening at Woodbine, visit Woodbine.com or follow @WoodbineTB and @WoodbineComms on social media.