Woodbine: Updated fields with scratches, changes for Mile day

Automatic Breeders’ Cup berths are up for grabs as the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, the Summer Stakes (G1) and the Natalma Stakes (G1) headline Saturday’s card at Woodbine.

The 28th running of the Woodbine Mile worth US$736,615 and contested over the turf course has attracted eight hopefuls. As part a win-and-you’re-in challenge series, the winner will be entitled to automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.

Click here for Woodbine entries and results.

Godolphin homebred Naval Power will look to shore up his impressive resume in his first race on Canadian turf in the Woodbine Mile.

The 4-year-old son of Teofilo who has constructed a record of 9: 6-2-0 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 was won by stablemate and 2023 Woodbine Mile winner Master of The Seas, and the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on May 4 was 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,” trainer Charlie Appleby said.

He expects Naval Power to take well to the Woodbine turf course.

“Woodbine is a fair track and is always well maintained,” Appleby said. “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 1/2-length score in the Pat Eddery in July 2022 at Ascot.

The gelding’s only result outside the top two was a sixth in the Dewhurst (G1) at Newcastle on Oct. 8, 2022.

Naval Power’s most notable victory to date came in the Singspiel (G2) at Meydan 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, who was my first Breeders Cup’ winner in 2013,” Appleby said.

Godolphin and Appleby will be looking to replicate their multiple Woodbine successes including when they hit the Canadian International with Walton Street, the Summer with Albahr and the Natalma with Wild Beauty, all in 2021.

In 2022, Godolphin and Appleby sent five-time group 1 winner Modern Games to Woodbine Mile glory. That was followed by a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Mysterious Night added to the team’s success with a win in the 2022 Summer Stakes.

Last year Master of The Seas 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 will make his first start in North America for trainer Maurizio Guarnieri.

The 4-year-old son of Rock of Gibraltar enjoyed a banner 3-year-old campaign that yielded a Group 1 win at Ascot in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes along with three runner-up efforts at the top 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 Lockinge (G1) on May 18 at Newbury. One month later he was 10th in the Queen Anne (G1) at Ascot.

Big Rock comes into the Mile off a fifth in the Prix Jacques Le Marois (G1) at Deauville on Aug. 11.

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

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

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

“In the races Big Rock gives his best as a front-runner,” Guarnieri said. “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, 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 won the King Edward (G2) twice, in 2022 and 2024, this year’s Highlander (G2) and the 2022 Connaught Cup (G2).

The son of Drosselmeyer 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 17: 9-3-1 and has recorded US$615,528 in purse earnings.

Kazushi Kimura will be in the irons.

My Boy Prince, Canada’s champion 2-year-old male, has crafted an 11: 6-3-1 mark. The multiple stakes-winning son of Cairo Prince won last year’s Simcoe Stakes and Cup and Saucer Stakes. This year he took three straight stakes, including the King Corrie, Queenston and Plate Trial. He was a determined second in The King’s Plate on Aug. 23.

“My Boy Prince is an amazing horse,” jockey Sahin Civaci said. “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 Woodbine Mile with Tepin and World Approval in that order. “You sure wouldn't look at him and think that he’s some superstar. He saves it all for on the track.”

Win for the Money is Casse’s other starter. A 5-year-old son of Moyhamen who is owned by Live Oak Plantation, the multiple graded-stakes-placed gelding is 15: 4-5-1.

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

His other two starts at Woodbine came last fall, when he was third in the Autumn Stakes (G2) and second in the Valedictory (G3).

This year he won the black-type Mr. Steele at Gulfstream Park in May, was fourth in the Wise Dan (G2) at Churchill in June and was second in the Kentucky Downs Mint Millions Turf Mile Preview at Ellis Park on Aug. 3.

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

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

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 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 outer turf June 16.

The bay gelding took to the inner turf again in his latest test and went back to the barn a 1 1/2-length winner at 7 1/2 furlongs July 28.

“He is a consummate professional both in his training and temperament,” Charalambous said. “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 US$250,492 in earnings, Niagara Skyline was a US$4,500 purchase at the 2019 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society winter mixed sale.

Playmea Tune, a Chiefswood Stables homebred, has a record of 3: 2-1-0. Trained by Canada Hall of Fame inductee Josie Carroll, the 4-year-old son of Maclean’s Music got his career out of the gate in grand fashion when he romped to an 11-length score at six furlongs over the Woodbine synthetic track May 24.

The bay gelding came back with a 5 1/2-length victory at 6 1/2 furlongs on the Toronto Tapeta next time out July 7.

In his first stakes test, the 6 1/2-furlong Bold Venture (G3), Playmea Tune rallied stoutly to finish second, just a neck behind winning sprint star Patches O’Houlihan.

A US$6,750 purchase at the 2019 CTHS Canada premier yearling sale, Secret Reserve is trained by Mike Mattine for owners Carlo D’Amato and Stacey Van Camp.

The résumé of the 6-year-old son of Giant Gizmo who brings a record of 26: 6-1-8 into the Woodbine 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 (G2), Secret Reserve at 44-1 kept on for third in the one-mile affair over good going on the Woodbine outer turf.

“He’s a happy horse,” Mattine said. “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.”

The winner of the US$368,308 Natalma Stakes for 2-year-old fillies will be entitled to automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 1, and the winner of the US$368,308 Summer Stakes for 2-year-olds receives the same opportunity for the Juvenile Turf, also Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

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

With Saturday morning scratches and changes included, these are the updated fields for the five graded stakes on the undercard Saturday at Woodbine: