Woodbine roundup: Undercard stakes carry Breeders’ Cup clues

And One More Time, closing down the middle of the track under Rafael Hernandez, got the measure of stablemates Vixen, and Nitrogen in Saturday’s Grade 1, $368,551 Natalma Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

The Natalma, a turf race contested over one mile of grass, is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series and entitles the winner to automatic entry in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. That Grade 1, one-mile event will be run at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

In a sign of what was to come in the latter stages, Nitrogen, and And One More Time were one-two as the field settled into stride, followed by fellow Mark Casse pupil Vixen through an opening quarter in 23.28 seconds over firm going on the E.P. Taylor turf.

The trio continued to match strides around the turn for home, but the drama was just beginning as Vixen, in rein to John Velazquez came calling, while a game Nitrogen, dug in gamely to the inside, with And One More Time powering on in the middle.

Nitrogen was a length clear at the stretch call as the three-pronged battle continued to intensify as the finish line drew nearer.

At the wire, And One More Time eked out a neck score over Vixen. Nitrogen was a half-length further back in third. Italian Soiree was fourth.

The final time was 1:33.99.

Ready to Battle, Annascaul, Ready for Candy, Mountain Breeze, Will Reign, Thread and Artic Velocity completed the order of finish.

The Natalma was the first stakes test and the first grass race for the daughter of Omaha Beach.

For dual hall of fame trainer Casse, it was his eighth Natalma crown.

“You know, when I asked her down the lane, she didn't care where she was,” said Hernandez, who won the 2022 edition of the Natalma with Last Call. “She just does her job, and you don't get intimidated.”

“She just ran wonderfully,” assistant trainer Kathryn Sullivan said. “A lot of heart. We knew from her race of Saratoga, we had a special filly, but I think she really proved it today."

And More Time, who was purchased by Live Oak Plantation for US$750,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, was starting for only the third time after a seventh in her debut at Churchill Downs on June 26 and a maiden-breaking effort last time out at Saratoga on Aug. 8.

She paid $35.40. An all-Casse trifecta paid $1,101.55 for $1.

New Century bests favorite in Summer Stakes

New Century and Al Qudra, both invading from England, came from well back early to end clear of their eight rivals as the one-two finishers in the US$368,918 Summer Stakes (G1).

The Summer, a one-mile turf race, offered an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, a one-mile race that will be run at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Groot, a 45-1 chance, set the early pace in the Summer with Winterberry in hot pursuit through a quarter in 22.60 seconds and a half in 45.54 seconds on the firm going.

“I was at the back, he was a bit keen the inside,” said Oisin Murphy, who rode New Century for owner Qatar Racing.

The pair were both in high gear once the field settled into the stretch and were finishing strongly when they traded bumps in the late going.

“The inside horse (Dream On) ducked out, and William (Al Qudra’s rider, William Buick) and I tried to have one smooth challenge down the center of the track,” said Murphy.

New Century, who is trained by Andrew Balding and travelled here with assistant trainer Leanne White, returned $8.80 as the second choice while prevailing by 1 1/4 lengths over his even-money rival.

Dream On held for third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up, with First Resort, Cairo Caper, Winterberry, Forty N Five, Special Session, Groot, and Coolcollected completing the order of finish.

There were 17 horses entered for the Summer but five Mark Casse trainees, Ready to Battle, Vixen, Will Reign, Thread and Nitrogen, were cross-entered in the Summer and competed in a fillies race earlier on the card. Latin Fever, also conditioned by Casse, was entered but scratched from both races while Dewolf, trained by Kevin Attard, opted to await Sunday’s restricted Bull Page.

“The Qatar racing team with Andrew found this race, and obviously it made sense timing-wise for the Breeders’ Cup,” Murphy said. “Now he’s going to have to be sharper at Del Mar, but he has the class, and hopefully he can step up again.”

“You know, he’s done everything right since he’s been here,” White said. “He traveled over on the plane well. He’s eaten everything and he’s drank really well. ... His training has been good, a little bit greener on the track the first day, but then, you know, he wasn’t bothered by horses galloping past him. I took him on the turf on Thursday, and just let him stretch from the two-pole, and he gave me a lovely feel.”

New Century was making his first start in graded stakes company after winning the listed Stonehenge, a Salisbury stakes which was run over one mile of turf on Aug. 14. The colt by Kameko out of the Street Cry mare, Potent Embrace, had won his maiden over seven furlongs on the grass at Doncaster before ending second behind Al Qudra in the listed Pat Eddery in his first encounter with Al Qudra.

“He’s a small horse, and he’s fairly light on his feet,” said White. “He sort of skips over the ground.”

The Balding stable had not been seen here since 2019, when Pivoine finished fourth in the Canadian International, but had enjoyed success in Woodbine’s 2017 E. P. Taylor Stakes with Blond Me, ridden by Murphy, and won the Canadian International in 2003 with Phoenix Reach.

Fashionably Fab rallies, wins Ontario Matron

Fashionably Fab, under David Moran, rallied late to take the Grade 3, US$132,020 Ontario Matron for fillies and mares. 

Moran, who got the call from trainer Kevin Attard, after the former’s son apprentice Pietro Moran was injured in a spill at Fort Erie on Tuesday, delivered a perfect ride on the dark bay daughter of Silent Name.

Solo Album was still on top of the charts through a half-mile in 48.13 seconds, while Fashionably Fab sat 12th.

Heading into the turn for home, Solo Album was still on top, but Fashionably Fab, along the rail, had already navigated her way into contention and was given her cue in early stretch by Moran.

The pair pounced on the pacesetter and struck front in early stretch. Ahead by a half-length at the stretch call, Fashionably Fab was able to fend off an inside bid from Elysian Field to win by a length. Blueberry Fields rallied to finish third, a half-length in front of Solo Album.

The final time was 1:43.84.

“I was riding this for Pietro,” said Moran, who wore a yellow riding cap with his son’s name embroidered on it. “He was out there with me. He called me before the race, told me exactly how to ride her. So, it was basically him riding the horse. I just steered her around. But she was amazing. She traveled nicely, kicked very strongly to the head of the lane, and you know, Pietro was behind her.

“It's amazing just to be riding with him this year. I can't describe the feeling of it, and then just to watch him turn into the rider and person that he is, he’s just a great kid and a natural rider. And as Kevin will tell you, he's a hard worker and deserves everything he gets. He’ll be back from this in no time, and he’ll be back at it.

“The surgery went well, and the doctors were very happy with it. So, he just has to recover now, and we have to take that as it comes.”

Attard thanked owner and breeder Terra Racing Stable for their support.

“First, they gave Pietro an opportunity, when he was a young apprentice, early in his career, to get on her and ride her in the graded stakes (the Grade 3 Belle Mahone), and she won. And today, I just thought it was really fitting if we gave dad a try on this one for Pietro.

“The filly is just a wonderful filly. And this one's for you, buddy. Can't wait to see you back here.”

It was the ninth win, to go along with three thirds from 15 starts for the 4-year-old, who won five straight races, all stakes, from Sept. 12, 2023, to June 1, 2024.

Fashionably Fab paid $15.80 for the win.

Patches O’Houlihan holds Vigil

Patches O’Houlihan took command at the start, turned back a couple of challenges from long shot Rockcrest, and motored to his third win in as many starts this season in the US$124,537 Vigil Stakes (G3).

The defending champion in the six-furlong Vigil, Patches O’Houlihan shot to the front from his outside post and led through fractions of 22.46 and 44.86 seconds en route to his 1 3/4-length tally with a final time of 1:08.88 under Sofia Vives.

"There were a couple options today, and we just had to play the break,” Vives said. “Once the doors open, plan A, B and C sometimes go out the window, and you got to go to your own plan. ... But Patches is a pro. He knows what to do if we think there’s speed, he hears us, and he says, ‘I’m faster.’ And today he did just that.”

Remuda closed on the inside for second money with War Bomber a length back in third after stalking the pace. Ironstone, I’m A Gambler, Last American Exit and Rockcrest rounded out the order of finish.

Patches O’Houlihan has won 10 of 12 starts, including seven stakes, and is 3-for-3 this season under his new rider Vives.

“He’s amazing,” trainer Robert Tiller said. “He’s a freak of nature. I really believe he’s getting better, so I’m very thrilled, and it’s just wonderful. He’s just amazing.”

Tiller has won the Vigil six times, the first four with Pink Lloyd from 2017 to 2020, now a member of the Canada Hall of Fame along with his conditioner.

Patches O’Houlihan paid $3.60 for the win.

Horse Racing Nation coverage of Woodbine Mile day is made possible in part through a sponsorship by Woodbine Entertainment Group.