Heartwarming Journey for Carson’s Run’s Connections Continues in Woodbine’s WAYI Summer

Breeders' Cup winner Cody's Wish (Curlin) may be the sport's poster boy for feel-good racing stories, but there's another waiting in the wings as West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey's own touching story about Carson's Run (c, 2, Cupid-Hot N Hectic, by Henny Hughes) keeps improving. The 2-year-old colt may be headed to the Breeders' Cup himself after capturing Saturday's GI Bet365 Summer S. at Woodbine, a “Win and You're In” event offering the winner a free berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 3. Like Cody's Wish, Carson's Run was named after a young man who suffers from Wolf-Hirschorn Syndrome.

With the start of the C$500,000 Summer delayed several moments due to a last-minute shoe repair for 9-5 pick My Boy Prince (Cairo Prince), who was coming off a 14-length triumph in the Aug. 27 Simcoe S. over Woodbine's Tapeta, that one set the early :23.46 and :47.10 pace while Carson's Run lingered at the back of the field, saving ground on the inside. Just like in his earlier two starts, Carson's Run was unhurried early and waited patiently to make his move. They came off the turn with My Boy Prince in front on the rail as Carson's Run abruptly hurtled around the middle of the course, about 10 paths wide, with an Arazi-like move in search of a clear run. He sailed on by to win by 2 1/4 lengths, with My Boy Prince holding off the filly Go With Gusto (Medaglia d'Oro)–who finished first but was disqualified in her course and distance debut here Aug.13– for third. Final time for the mile on the lawn was 1:35.70; the Juvenile Turf is the same distance and, like the Summer, open to both colts and fillies.

“He did very well there because he saved all the ground he could and then when he angled him out at the quarter pole, we had to come wide obviously, but that way you don't get any traffic,” said trainer Christophe Clement's assistant Christophe Lorieul. “He had a clear run from quarter pole to the wire and he really showed what he is today.”

Carson's Run, a $170,000 OBS April buy after working :10 1/5, kickstarted his career with a game debut July 29 at Saratoga, chasing early before angling wide and digging in to win by a neck in a performance much like his Summer win. He tried similar tactics in the GIII With Anticipation S., also at the Spa but over heavier going, only to get caught late by the improving filly Gala Brand (Violence) and finish a half-length back. Dylan Davis has been aboard for all three starts.

“Today, we wanted to go with the outside route and keep a clear trip on him,” said Davis. “We saved all the ground going into the turn–nice real big turn here–and he was able to get it done.”

Pedigree Notes:

Coolmore America's Cupid may stand in Kentucky but has had his biggest success to date north of the border, as Carson's Run adds his first Grade I win to Cupid's sire tally to go along with 2021 Canadian champion 2-year-old colt God of Love and 2022 Prince of Wales S. winner Duke of Love. Overall, Cupid has four graded winners among his seven Northern Hemisphere-bred black-type winners.

Henny Hughes, a Storm Cat-line stallion who has stood in Japan since the 2014 season, is finding success as a broodmare sire with both Carson's Run and Beholder's daughter Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) adding Grade I wins in the last week. Among the 21 other stakes winners out of his daughters is champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar). Interestingly, Carson's Run was bred by Frankfort Park Farm, who co-bred Monomoy Girl.

Hot N Hectic's only other foal is a Volatile colt foaled Jan. 25 of this year. A half-sister to fan favorite MGSW & GISP Rated R Superstar (Kodiak Kowboy), Hot N Hectic was bred to Maxfield for 2024.

Saturday, Woodbine
BET365 SUMMER S.-GI, C$522,500, Woodbine, 9-16, 2yo, 1mT, 1:35.70, gd.
1–CARSON'S RUN, 122, c, 2, by Cupid
       1st Dam: Hot N Hectic, by Henny Hughes
                2nd Dam: Wicked Wish, by Gold Case
                3rd Dam: Holy Wish, by Lord At War (Arg)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
WIN. ($35,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $67,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL;
$170,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-West Point Thoroughbreds and
Steven Bouchey; B-Frankfort Park Farm (KY); T-Christophe
Clement; J-Dylan Davis. C$300,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0,
$314,529. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–My Boy Prince, 122, c, 2, Cairo Prince–Hopping Not Hoping,
by Silent Name (Jpn). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK
TYPE. (C$115,000 Ylg '22 CANSEP). O-Gary Barber; B-Murray
Smith (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. C$120,000.
3–Go With Gusto, 119, f, 2, Medaglia d'Oro–Itsagiantcauseway,
by Giant's Causeway. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK
TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($160,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT;
$225,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Gary Barber; B-Teneri Farms Inc
(KY); T-Mark E. Casse. C$50,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.30, 1.90, 15.25.
Also Ran: Tunechi, Souper Attentive, Western Whirl, King of the Track, Airosa, Bucyk. Scratched: Bolt Enoree, Golden Canary.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Back At Woodbine, Derby-Oaks Roads Begin At Churchill

Racing roads converge this Saturday. With a little over a month left before horses and their connections officially point to Santa Anita, the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series returns to Woodbine Racetrack. Featured are three 'Win and You're In' chances, including the GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile.

Meanwhile, at Churchill Downs, the prep seasons officially open for 2-year-old colts and fillies, who are seeking to bank points for next May's 150th editions of the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks.

There is much to get to with Belmont at the Big A, Pimlico and Hastings, all carding graded races as well.

Appleby Looks to Repeat in Woodbine Mile

Last year, trainer Charlie Appleby sent MGISW Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to Toronto for the Woodbine Mile and the now-retired globetrotter with William Buick aboard brought home the prize en route to another win in the Breeders' Cup.

With a trip to the FanDuel GI Breeders' Cup Mile on the line, this time around the Godolphin conditioner ships in multiple-group winner Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was well-beaten last March on the World Cup undercard in the G1 Dubai Turf, but won the G2 Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile S. by four lengths at Ascot July 15.

“He has natural pace and travels well,” said Charlie 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.”

The 5-year-old morning-line favorite will face five others, including MGSW War Bomber (Ire) (War Front), whose stalking trip led to a key victory in the Aug. 19 running of the GII King Edward S. That race saw 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Maker's Mark Mile hero Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) run fourth, which was the 6-year-old's first attempt since finishing fourth in the G1 Dubai Turf.

Also scheduled, trainer Mark Casse has almost half of the field looking for a trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in the GI bet365 Summer S. Out of his entries, My Boy Prince (Cairo Prince) was certainly eye-catching when he won against restricted company by 14 lengths in the Simcoe S. over the Tapeta at Woodbine Aug. 27. The gray upstart will do battle with Catch a Glimpse S. victor Airosa (Uncle Mo), who is looking to take on the boys.

The fillies will get their chance for a trip to Santa Anita and the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Saturday in the GI Johnnie Walker Natalma S. Airosa could run in this spot, but it is an incredibly open race with Appleby's import Dazzling Star (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) present and the Christophe Clement-trained Ozara (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who broke her maiden by a neck Aug. 6 at Saratoga.

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

Switching to the Tapeta, Woodbine rounds out their graded races with the GIII Vigil S. Seven sprinters will try to derail the early speed of Patches O'Houlihan (Reload), who stepped up to win the GIII Bold Venture S. in Toronto Aug. 20.

The Roads Begins Where It Ends at Churchill

Less than nine months from now, the 150th GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks will be crowned. The roads start at Churchill Downs on Saturday as points of 10-5-3-2-1 will be distributed to the top five finishers.

For the colts, the GIII Iroquois S. includes Winchell Thoroughbred's Risk It (Gun Runner), who sprinted home a winner at first asking Aug. 19 at Saratoga for trainer Steve Asmussen. The morning-line favorite will try to outrun WinStar and Siena Farm's Gettysburg Address (Constitution), who won in his first career race for trainer Brad Cox at Ellis Park Aug. 6.

As for the fillies, their race is no-less competitive as nine will be sent on their way in the GIII Pocahontas S. V V's Dream (Mitole) makes her return to the races after garnering 'TDN Rising Star' honors when she debuted for Kenny McPeek back in mid-May at Churchill Downs. The gray filly was second in her last effort to the undefeated GISW Brightwork (Outwork) at Ellis July 2 in the Debutante S. Facing her will be a number of contenders on the make, including SW Hot Beach (Omaha Beach), Empire Island (Classic Empire) and Peignoir (Mendelssohn).

Rounding out the first Saturday of racing at Churchill's September meet is the GIII Locust Grove S. Out of these older females, the two-turn test welcomes back GISW and MGSW Pauline's Pearl (Tapit). The Stonestreet homebred will once again do battle with the likes of MGSW Search Results (Flatter) and GISW A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo).

Grade III Tests at BAQ, Pimlico and Hastings

Swinging up to Aqueduct for the BAQ meet that just opened, we find the final leg of the Turf Triple Series for the fillies in the GIII Jockey Club Oaks Invitational.

Charlie Appleby will look to make his presence felt here too when he sends out Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Last seen running third Aug. 20 at Deauville in the G2 Prix Alec Head S, she will match wits with Graham Motion trainee Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who was second by a nose at Laurel Park Aug. 13 in the Searching S.

Speaking of racing in Maryland, Pimlico's short September meet continues and featured on Saturday is the GIII Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup S., which includes MSP Smokin' T (War Front), GSP Wolfie's Dynaghost (Ghostzapper) and SW King Vega (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

Wrapping up the graded day of racing, Hastings Racecourse will put on the GIII British Columbia Derby. Morning-line favorite SW Sunbird (Orb) will look to rebound after the bay gelding ran fifth in the GIII Canadian Derby.

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GISW Gretzky the Great Retired To Ocala Stud

GISW Gretzky the Great (Nyquist) has been retired and will stand the upcoming breeding season at Ocala Stud, the farm announced today.

Campaigned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse, Gretzky the Great took Woodbine's GI Summer S. as a 2-year-old.

A $295,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling purchase, Gretzky the Great broke his maiden in his second career start at Woodbine. He then took the Soaring Free S. before his win in the GI Summer S., ending his season with a sixth-place run in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. At three, he won the Greenwood S. and finished third in the John Battaglia Memorial S. before retiring with a record of 11-4-2-1 and earnings of $379,866.

For more information on Gretzky the Great, contact David or Joe O'Farrell at (352) 237-2171, or visit www.OcalaStud.com.

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Gretzky the Great Skates to Win in GI Summer S.

Gretzky the Great (Nyquist), who became freshman sire Nyquist (Uncle Mo)’s first stakes winner in August, became his second Grade I winner less than a month later with a victory in Sunday’s GI Summer S. at Woodbine. The score in the “Win and You’re In” event punched Gretzky the Great’s ticket to the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and gave Japanese-born jockey Kazushi Kimura his first career Grade I triumph.

Unveiled going five furlongs on the local turf July 12, the Ontario-bred was runner-up to re-opposing rival Ready to Repeat before graduating by open lengths in an off-the-turfer there Aug. 2. Getting up late to capture the 6 1/2-furlong Soaring Free S. three weeks later, Gretzky the Great was made a narrow favorite here.

Coming away well, the bay deferred to draft in behind of Ready to Repeat in the two path for the long run up the backstretch. Traveling comfortably past fractions of :24.10 and :47.82, he was given just a nudge by Kimura three-eighths out and sidled up alongside the pacesetter soon after straightening for home as the top two separated themselves from the pack. Overtaking Ready to Repeat past the three-sixteenths pole, he quickly kicked clear while briefly lugging into his foe’s path and cruised home much the best. An inquiry was taken into the winner’s drifting, but the result stood.

“He is such an amazing horse,” said Kimura. “Through the final stretch, he had a tremendous explosion. He sometimes was lugging in a little bit, but he’s just still a baby. First time out it was only five furlongs, then when he won I was like, ‘Oh, that will be a stakes horse for the future.’ And then winning a stakes and now he’s got a Grade I, he’s such a nice horse.”

Pedigree Notes:

Already the second Grade I winner for Darley’s first-crop sensation Nyquist–following GI Spinaway S. victress Vequist–Gretzky the Great is the second foal to race out of MSP Pearl Turn. Bought by Anderson Farms for $310,000 at Keeneland November in 2016, she has a yearling Quality Road colt and visited Uncle Mo this spring.

Sunday, Woodbine
SUMMER S.-GI, C$280,500, Woodbine, 9-20, 2yo, 1mT, 1:34.53, fm.
1–GRETZKY THE GREAT, 122, c, 2, by Nyquist
                1st Dam: Pearl Turn (MSP, $182,560), by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Turn Me Loose, by Kris S.
                3rd Dam: Adoradancer, by Danzig Connection
   1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($295,000 RNA
Ylg ’19 FTKOCT). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Gary
Barber; B-Anderson Farms Ont. Inc. (ON); T-Mark E. Casse;
J-Kazushi Kimura. C$180,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0,
$252,205. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk
   Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*
2–Ready to Repeat, 122, g, 2, More Than Ready–Christine
Daae, by Giant’s Causeway. ($60,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP). O-Gail
Cox, John Menary, Michael James Ambler, and Windways
Farm; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Gail
Cox. C$50,000.
3–Dolder Grand, 122, c, 2, Candy Ride (Arg)–Tamboz, by Tapit.
($800,000 2yo ’20 OBSAPR). O-D. J. Stable LLC; B-Dell Ridge
Farm, LLC (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. C$27,500.
Margins: 3 1/4, 1, HF. Odds: 2.40, 4.85, 5.85.
Also Ran: American Monarch, Heat of the Night, Secret Potion, Download. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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