Tag: Breeders’ Cup

Trainer Charlie Appleby has a remarkable record at Woodbine, with his last seven starters here heading back to England with Grade 1 victories.

On Saturday, Appleby will be looking for his third success in the Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes when he sends out Dazzling Star (GB) in the $500,000, one-mile turf race.

The Natalma also is a “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, a Grade 1 race over the same distance which will be run at Santa Anita on November 3. Fifteen fillies have been listed with four cross-entered for Saturday's bet365 Summer Stakes.

“It is a race which we like to target each year, and she has a similar profile to our other fillies who we have run in the past with success,” said Appleby, whose previous Natalma scores came with Wild Beauty (GB) in 2021 and La Pelosa (IRE) in 2018.

Dazzling Star races for the powerhouse owner/breeder Godolphin, who have provided five of Appleby's Woodbine winners. The daughter of Blue Point and Dancing Sands has seen action three times, all in six-furlong races, with the two most recent being straightaway turf runs.

Appleby, noting that the Natalma has been on Dazzling Star's dance card since her last-out fourth-place finish in Ascot's Group 3 Princess Margaret on July 29, acknowledges that the Natalma's one-mile trip around one left-handed turn poses a new challenge for his promising charge.

“It is an unknown, but she settles well in her work at home and her half-brother (the 3-year-old Bold Act) has won over 10 furlongs,” said the trainer. “(The E.P. Taylor turf) is a fair track which should only help her.”

William Buick, who guided Modern Games to victory in last year's Grade 1 Woodbine Mile and Mysterious Night to success in the same day's Grade 1 Summer Stakes, will do the honours on the current pair of Appleby invaders, which also includes Woodbine Mile favourite Master of the Seas (IRE).

Ozara (IRE), a maiden winner over 1 1/16 miles of “good” Saratoga turf in her only career start on August 6, will be stepping into stakes company for owner Cheyenne Stable LLC and trainer Christophe Clement.

“To be completely honest, we've been looking at this race for her ever since she broke her maiden,” said Miguel Clement, son and assistant to the trainer. “We were strongly considering a Kentucky Downs race or the Natalma, and we decided to go with the Natalma and we're probably a little more at ease with the Woodbine course than we were with Kentucky Downs.”

Although Ozara was sent off at 12-1 in that debut, Clement said her success was no huge surprise for her connections.

“We liked this horse from day one. She'd been working well on the grass, and we were actually quite confident in her,” he said. “She's a gutsy little filly, with tactical speed and a turn of foot that makes her very dangerous.”

The Clement outfit finished second in the 2021 edition of the Natalma with Pizza Bianca, who went on to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Trainer Mark Casse will be looking for his eighth victory in the Natalma, the most recent coming with Victory to Victory in 2016 and has entered a quartet of Golden Canary, Go With Gusto, Ready to Jam and Dancing Duchess.

Golden Canary and Go With Gusto are cross-entered in the Summer Stakes, the Grade 1, one-mile turf race for 2-year-olds, which also is part of the “Win and You're In” series.

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber, Golden Canary defeated males to win the Soaring Free over 6 ½ furlongs of turf here on August 20. Dancing Duchess finished a neck back as the runner-up.

Airosa, conditioned by Kevin Attard, won the Catch A Glimpse, a 6 ½-furlong turf race named in honour of Casse's Natalma and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner.

Attard also has entered Bolt Enoree and Rhapsody, with Airosa and Bold Enoree cross-entered in the Summer.

Dea Matrona (FR), making her first North American start for new trainer Chad Brown, also will invade from south of the border along with Brocknardini, She Feels Pretty, Ms. Tart, and She's Fire.

$500,000 Johnnie Walker Natalma (Grade 1) – Race 8
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Dazzling Star (GB) – William Buick – Charlie Appleby

2 – Bolt Enoree – Patrick Husbands – Kevin Attard

3 – Dancing Duchess – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

4 – Brocknardini – Declan Carroll – George Weaver

5 – Ms. Tart – Antonio Gallardo – Todd Beattie

6 – Airosa – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard

7 – Simply in Front – Jose Campos – Patrick Dixon

8 – Ready to Jam – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

9 – Go With Gusto – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

10 – She's Fire – Addiel Ayala – Kevin Rice

11 – She Feels Pretty – John Velazquez – Cherie DeVaux

12 – Ozara (IRE) – Dylan Davis – Christophe Clement

13 – Dea Matrona (FR) – Joel Rosario – Chad Brown

14 – Golden Canary – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

15 – Rhapsody – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard

The post Dazzling Star Could Extend Remarkable Streak Of Seven Grade 1 Winners For Trainer Charlie Appleby At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Automatic Breeders' Cup berths are on the line as compelling editions of the Ricoh Woodbine Mile, bet365 Summer Stakes, and Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes headline Saturday's Turf Champions Day card of racing at Woodbine in Toronto, Ontario.

The 27^th running of the Mile, worth $1 million and contested over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course, has attracted an accomplished field of six hopefuls. The Mile and the Natalma will be showcased on a live broadcast airing on TSN from 5-6 p.m. ET.

All three races are Grade 1.

Under the terms of the Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge Series, the Woodbine Mile winner will be entitled to a fees-paid berth for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile, to be run on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. The winner of the $500,000 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes, for 2-year-old fillies, will be entitled to a fees-paid berth for the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 3, while the winner of the $500,000 bet365 Summer Stakes, for 2-year-olds, receives the same opportunity for the $2 million Juvenile Turf, also on Nov. 3.

Once again, the Mile, Natalma and Summer will showcase an exceptional group of turf talents, local and international standouts, as well as high-profile owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

Godolphin's Irish homebred Master of The Seas will be making his first appearance in North America after prosperous performances in both England and the United Arab Emirates.

The 5-year-old son of Dubawi (IRE)-Firth of Lorne (IRE), who sports a record of 6-2-2 from 13 starts, is a five-time group winner along with a second and third at the G1 level.

“He has natural pace and travels well,” said Appleby. “The E.P. Taylor is a nice conventional track which suits him. It is a fair track with a nice straight that gives you a chance.”

Master of The Seas arrives at the Mile off a score in the one-mile Group 2 Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile Stakes on July 15. ​ ​

Appleby selected that race as the bay's most impressive outing to date.

“Winning the Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot in his last start where he won by four lengths [is his best performance],” he noted.

Godolphin and Appleby will be looking to duplicate their 2021 Woodbine success when they hit the Pattison Canadian International (Walton Street), bet365 Summer (Albahr) and Johnnie Walker Natalma (Wild Beauty) trifecta.

Last year, Godolphin and Appleby sent out five-time Group 1 winner, recently retired Modern Games, to Woodbine Mile glory, which was followed by a victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). Mysterious Night added to the day's success with a win in the bet365 Summer.

“Both Master of The Seas (IRE) and Modern Games are strong travellers and milers with a will to win,” said Appleby.

William Buick, who won last year's race with the aforementioned Modern Games (IRE), will make the trip to ride on Saturday.

Dual hall of fame conditioner Mark Casse, who won consecutive editions of the Mile, in 2016 with Tepin and one year later with World Approval, has three chances to add a third victory.

Ice Chocolat, a 5-year-old Brazilian-bred son of Goldikovic-Amor Chocolat, brings a record of 5-5-2 from 18 starts into his latest engagement.

Owned by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch, the multiple graded stakes-placed dark bay took the Group 3 Grande Prêmio Federação Internacional de Autoridades Hípicas at Brazil's Hipódromo da Gávea on Nov. 7, 2021, in his final start of the campaign.

The gelding, bred by Haras Niju, made his North American debut with a fifth-place effort in his first start of 2022 and then contested his next seven starts at Woodbine.

He arrives at the Mile off a third-place effort in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) which saw Ice Chocolat carried six- to seven-wide and then steadied before regrouping to close stoutly, missing the top spot by 1 ¼ lengths.

“One horse that has really come around is Ice Chocolat,” praised Casse. “His last couple of races have been really good. We've figured out that his best distance is a mile and he's training really well. In fact, (assistant trainer) David Adams has had him forever at Woodbine. Then, he went to Saratoga and then sent him back to Woodbine. David said, 'Boy, this horse has really gotten good.' He thinks he's changed.”

Joel Rosario will be aboard on Saturday.

Ultra-consistent Lucky Score, a 5-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky-Miss Matzo, is 6-3-4 from 17 starts and has finished in the top three over his past seven starts.

Owned by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Pantofel Stable, the bay gelding earned his second graded stakes victory after taking the six-furlong Highlander (G2) on July 1 at Woodbine. One year earlier, in September, he won the Vigil (G3).

Bred in Ontario by James Everatt, Janeane Everatt (who passed away in July) and Arika Everatt-Meeuse, Lucky Score has raced exclusively at Woodbine.

After a 10th in his debut on Sept. 19, 2020, he broke his maiden next time out, and made it two straight scores in his 3-year-old debut on Aug. 20, 2021.

“Lucky Score, what can I say?” offered Casse. “He shows up every time and gives it his best. He's been a little unlucky, wide, in the last couple starts. If he could get the perfect storm, it wouldn't shock me to see him pull off an upset.”

Sahin Civaci, who has partnered Lucky Score in all his starts this year, once again gets the call.

Casse's third Mile hopeful comes in the form of My Sea Cottage.

Bred by Mubarak Al Naemi, and owned by Gary Barber, the 5-year-old son of Shalaa-Shim Sham has compiled a record of 3-1-6 from 16 starts.

The bay gelding is no stranger to Woodbine, having contested three races here, including the 2021 Toronto Cup Stakes (fifth).

His most recent outing was a fourth to Casa Creed in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1).

“We're bringing him in from New York,” said Casse. “I thought he ran very well in the Fourstardave. I don't know how much speed is going to be in the Mile, but he's fast and he'll be up on the lead.”

My Sea Cottage debuted with a sixth-place result at Belmont on July 3, 2020, in what was his only start of the year. He broke his maiden in his fourth start, a 2 ¼-length triumph over one mile on the Gulfstream turf on March 28, 2021.

Dylan Davis will ride.

A five-time winner, along with a second and two thirds, from 17 starts, Shirl's Speight rhymed off three straight trips to the winner's circle from Jan. 15 to April 15 last year, capped off by a nose triumph in the Makers Mark Mile (G1).

Under the tutelage of dual Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield, the 6-year-old son of Speightstown-Perfect Shirl won his debut, a seven-furlong race over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, on July 4, 2020, by eight lengths.

Bred and owned by Charles Fipke, the bay, who was fourth in this May's Dubai Turf (G1)  at Meydan, finished fourth in last year's Mile and second, at 55-1, to Modern Games in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

John Velazquez, who has a record five Woodbine Mile victories, including back-to-back (2012-13) triumphs with Wise Dan, will be in the irons.

Owned by Bruno Schickedanz and trained by Norm McKnight, War Bomber (IRE), a 5-year-old son of War Front-Sun Shower (IRE), heads into his second Mile (he was ninth last year) off a stellar winning performance in the King Edward Stakes (G2T) on Aug. 19 at Woodbine.

The gelding, claimed by Schickedanz for $25,000 in August 2021, brings a mark of 7-2-2 from 19 starts into Saturday's race. Last August, War Bomber sprung an 18-1 upset in the Seagram Cup (G3), run at 1 1/16 miles on the Woodbine Tapeta.

“He's versatile,” said Schickedanz, Canada's champion owner of 2022, after the King Edward. “To me, I don't know where he's better. He's good on both surfaces.”

Rico Walcott, aboard for the past two outings, gets the call on the Coolmore-bred bay.

$1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1) – Race 9

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Master of The Seas (IRE) – William Buick – Charlie Appleby

2 – War Bomber (IRE) – Rico Walcott – Norm McKnight

3 – Shirl's Speight – John Velazquez – Roger Attfield

4 – Ice Chocolat (BRZ) – Joel Rosario – Mark Casse

5 – My Sea Cottage (IRE) (S) – Dylan Davis – Mark Casse

6 – Lucky Score – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

$500,000 Johnnie Walker Natalma (Grade 1) – Race 8

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Dazzling Star (GB) – William Buick – Charlie Appleby

2 – Bolt Enoree – Patrick Husbands – Kevin Attard

3 – Dancing Duchess – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

4 – Brocknardini – Declan Carroll – George Weaver

5 – Ms. Tart – Antonio Gallardo – Todd Beattie

6 – Airosa – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard

7 – Simply in Front – Jose Campos – Patrick Dixon

8 – Ready to Jam – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

9 – Go With Gusto – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

10 – She's Fire – Addiel Ayala – Kevin Rice

11 – She Feels Pretty – John Velazquez – Cherie DeVaux

12 – Ozara (IRE) – Dylan Davis – Christophe Clement

13 – Dea Matrona (FR) – Joel Rosario – Chad Brown

14 – Golden Canary – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

15 – Rhapsody – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard ​

$500,000 bet365 Summer (Grade 1) – Race 6

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Souper Attentive – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

2 – Carson's Run – Dylan Davis – Christophe Clement

3 – My Boy Prince – Joel Rosario – Mark Casse

4 – Tunechi – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Barbara Minshall

5 – Go With Gusto – Joel Rosario – Mark Casse

6 – Bolt Enoree – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard

7 – Airosa – John Velazquez – Kevin Attard

8 – Western Whirl – Rico Walcott – Stuart Simon

9 – Bucyk – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard

10 – Golden Canary – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

11 – King of the Track – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

The post Woodbine Hosting Trio Of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Races On Saturday’s Turf Champions Day appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Blue Rose Farm's 3-year-old Arcangelo maintained his overall lead in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings for the third consecutive week, while the top five positions remained unchanged following the ninth week of voting. The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), which will be run Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

Arcangelo, winner of the Belmont Stakes (G1) and the Travers Stakes (G1), earned 289 votes, including 24 first-place votes. Pin Oak Stud LLC's 3-year-old Geaux Rocket Ride, runner-up in the FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic (G1), is in second place with 234 votes. Pacific Classic winner Arabian Knight, owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Inc., is in third place with 220 votes. C2 Racing Stable, LLC, and La Milagrosa Stable, LLC's Whitney Stakes (G1) winner White Abarrio remains in fourth with 216 votes. Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte, winner of the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), ranks fifth with 155 votes.

Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Bright Future, also owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, has moved into sixth place with 118 votes. Godolphin's 5-year-old Proxy, second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, ranks seventh with 114 votes.

Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings Co. Ltd.'s Ushba Tesoro (JPN), winner of the Dubai World Cup (G1), has moved from 10^th place to eighth this week. Mage, winner of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), is ninth with 53 votes, followed by Jeff Drown's 4-year-old Zandon, runner-up in the Whitney, who ranks 10^th with 52 votes.

The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 10. A list of voting members can be found here.

In the Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – Sept. 12, 2023*

Rank	Horse	Votes	First-Place Votes	Previous Week
1	Arcangelo	289	24	1
2	Geaux Rocket Ride	234	0	2
3	Arabian Knight	220	2	3
4	White Abarrio	216	2	4
5	Forte	155	0	5
6	Bright Future	118	0	7
7	Proxy	114	0	6
8	Ushba Tesoro	64	2	10
9	Mage	53	0	9
10	Zandon	52	0	8

*Note – The Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The 2023 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Santa Anita, is limited to 14 starters. The race will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock.

The post Arcangelo Retains Overall Lead In Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Arcangelo breezed over Saratoga's main track on Tuesday morning, reports the Daily Racing Form, the first move for the 3-year-old son of Arrogate since his Grade 1 Travers Stakes win on Aug. 26. Regular exercise rider Robert Mallari was aboard for the half-mile move, completed in 47.62 seconds.

“Wasn't looking for anything eye-popping, just a maintenance get-back-into-a-routine kind of thing,” trainer Jena Antonucci told DRF. “Robert was very pleased and very happy and took hold of him a little bit earlier than he thought; horse was looking to do more.”

An emphatic 1 1/2-length winner of the 12-furlong Belmont Stakes on June 10, Arcangelo turned back a quarter mile in the Travers but still prevailed by a length over Disarm. Arcangelo also scored by a head over Bishops Bay in the Grade 3 Peter Pan in May at Belmont.

Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation, Arcangelo was a $30,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He has now won four of his six career starts for earnings of $1,754,900.

Current plans call for the Blue Rose Farm-owned Arcangelo to work once more at Saratoga, then ship to Southern California later this month. He will have three more breezes at Santa Anita Park before the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

A lovely first work back for #Arcangelo post Travers victory! Robert very pleased with a smooth 1/2 mile work in 47.3 out in 100.4. So incredibly blessed and thankful. @jjcjockey pic.twitter.com/dEgrPTyHSa

— Jena (@jenaantonucci) September 12, 2023

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