Tag: Racing

With The Moonlight looks to continue the remarkable local success of trainer Charlie Appleby and owner/breeder Godolphin when the Irish-bred 4-year-old faces nine other fillies and mares in the E.P. Taylor Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.

The E.P. Taylor, run over 1 ¼ miles on the eponymous turf course, offers Grade 1 status and a purse of $750,000.

With The Moonlight will be the first E.P. Taylor starter for Appleby, whose eight Grade 1 wins from 11 starters here include the two most recent Woodbine Miles with Master of The Seas (IRE) and Modern Games (IRE). All those successes came for owner Godolphin and included six homebreds.

“Woodbine is a fair track, and this filly has shown she adapts well to training and racing away from home in the U.K.,” said Appleby.

With The Moonlight will be making her fifth appearance in North America, having recorded a win in the Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational and seconds there in the Lake Placid and the Belmont Oaks Invitational. The daughter of the spectacular Frankel (GB) was the runner-up behind the very talented In Italian in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland this spring.

Appleby considered the Saratoga Oaks the most impressive of those efforts.

“She got warm in the preliminaries, but managed to overcome that, getting a good position in the race and reversing form with the filly (McKulick) who had beaten her in the Belmont Oaks.”

With The Moonlight has been away from the races since finishing sixth over “soft” going in the Group 2 Dahlia at Newmarket on May 7.

Slated to start in the Grade 1 New York Stakes at Belmont on June 7, the filly missed that engagement due to what was described at the time as a “poor scope” and was sent home.

“We have been happy with her training over the summer,” said Appleby.

With The Moonlight will be looking for her first Grade 1 victory in the E.P. Taylor but numbers Grade 2 runner-up finishes in the Cape Verdi and Balanchine in Dubai this winter among her six overall successes.

“She settled well that day too, showing maturity,” said Appleby, of the latter effort.

William Buick, successful here with Master of The Seas (IRE) and Modern Games (IRE) and also an E.P. Taylor winner in 2009 with Lahaleeb (IRE), retains the mount on With The Moonlight.

Locally-based Moira and Fev Rover comprise a solid local team for the E.P. Taylor.

Moira, a 4-year-old trained by Kevin Attard, who was facing older rivals and trying turf for the first time in last fall's E.P. Taylor, is coming off a smashing 6 ¼-length victory in the Grade 2 Canadian over 1 1/8 miles of turf here September 9.

“She's doing well,” said Attard, who sent out Starship Jubilee to win the E.P. Taylor in 2019. “She's coming off a big win, obviously, and she's had some good works since then.”

Winner of Sovereign Awards as Canada's Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly last year, Moira had finished second in each of her first three starts this season.

Fev Rover (IRE) defeated Moira on one of those occasions, leaving that rival 4 ¼ lengths back when making her seasonal bow over one mile of turf in the Grade 2 Nassau.

Returning to action two weeks later in Saratoga's Grade 1 Diana Stakes, Fev Rover was a close and unlucky third but got her Grade 1 victory next time out in the Beverly D. at Colonial Downs.

In the Canadian, however, the Mark Casse-trained 5-year-old was fourth as the odds-on favourite.

“It was disappointing, but I was using the race as a prep for the E.P. Taylor and the Breeders' Cup (Filly and Mare Turf),” said Casse. “We're just hoping it works out. She's training really good into this race. We're expecting a big effort.”

Chad Brown, who won last year's E.P. Taylor with Rougir (FR) and the 2020 renewal with Etoile (FR), will be represented this year by Saratoga shippers Consumer Spending, Rocky Sky (IRE) and Kalifornia Queen (GER).

Christophe Clement, who took the 2021 E.P. Taylor with Mutamakina (GB), will be looking to emulate that feat with Amazing Grace (GER) and Atomic Blonde (GER).

Skims (GB), conditioned by Shug McGaughey, was in town for a runner-up effort in the Canadian, with Atomic Blonde just behind in third.

Aspen Grove (IRE) trained by Jack Sisterson, joins Fev Rover (IRE) as the only Grade 1 winners in the field. The daughter of Justify captured last year's Belmont Oaks Invitational.

Field for the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Fev Rover (IRE) – Javier Castellano – Mark Casse

2 – Amazing Grace (GER) – Dylan Davis – Christophe Clement

3 – Skims (GB) – Sahin Civaci – Shug McGaughey

4 – With The Moonlight (IRE) – William Buick – Charlie Appleby

5 – Aspen Grove (IRE) – Oisin Murphy – Jack Sisterson

6 – Moira – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard

7 – Consumer Spending – Kazushi Kimura – Chad Brown

8 – Atomic Blonde (GER) – Trevor McCarthy – Christophe Clement

9 – Rocky Sky (IRE) – Declan Carroll – Chad Brown

10 – Kalifornia Queen (GER) – Patrick Husbands – Chad Brown

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Klaravich Stables' Grade 1-winner Randomized will look to notch her second consecutive graded score in Sunday's Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame, a nine-furlong main track test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, Randomized posted a breakout score in her last start when taking the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales by four lengths on August 19 at Saratoga Race Course.

The 3-year-old daughter of Nyquist stretched out beyond 1 1/16 miles for the first time in the 10-furlong test and responded to the task with aplomb, leading at every point of call under Joel Rosario to draw clear down the lane and complete the course in 2:03.07. The effort was awarded a career-best and field-high 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

Bred by Richard and Connie Snyder's Cove Springs in Versailles, K.Y., Randomized boasts the special distinction of being the first Grade 1 winner for her breeders, who moved their operation to Kentucky from New Mexico nine years ago.

Connie Snyder said Randomized holds a special place in both her and her husband's hearts as she has brought their operation to a level they had always dreamed of reaching.

“We are just over the moon about it,” said Snyder, whose broodmare band stands at around 15. “She's such a beautiful filly and my husband had said since Day One about her that she was always such a forward-moving filly and was willing to do whatever you asked her to do. I wouldn't say we had an inkling she would be a Grade 1 horse, but I think all breeders always dream and hope.”

Randomized's Alabama effort came on the heels of a 1 1/2-length victory in the restricted one-mile Wilton on July 14 at the Spa, a strong rebound from an uncharacteristic sixth-place finish when making her stakes debut in the June 9 Grade 1 Acorn presented by Great Jones Distilling Co. at Belmont Park. In addition to her stakes scores, the bay filly was a winner at second asking in March in her lone start over the Aqueduct main track, coasting home a 5 1/2-length winner in a one-mile maiden tilt.

A $420,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Randomized is out of the unraced Elusive Quality mare French Passport, who is a half-sister to the Brown-trained multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Smooth Air, graded stakes-winner Overdriven and the nine-time winning mare Super Phoebe, who produced multiple Grade 1-winner Got Stormy and graded stakes-placed Sir Alfred James. The Snyders purchased French Passport for $200,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and have seen a tremendous return.

“That was a very pleasant surprise,” Snyder said of Klaravich Stables' purchase of Randomized. “They've been such supporters of some of the horses we've bred and we just couldn't be more thankful and appreciative.”

With Randomized among the top of the sophomore female division, Snyder said it would be an achievement of a lifetime if the filly makes an appearance at the Breeders' Cup in November at Santa Anita Park.

“Most people dream of going to the Kentucky Derby, but our dream is going to the Breeders' Cup,” said Snyder. “Not many people get to do what they truly love in life, and we've been very blessed with the horses we have and their accomplishments. We will be watching this weekend and praying.”

Joel Rosario retains the mount from post 3.

Haruya Yoshida's multiple graded stakes-winner A Mo Reay was last seen finishing a distant sixth in the Grade 3 Locust Grove on September 16 at Churchill Downs. Trained by two-time Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the daughter of Uncle Mo was Grade 1-placed as a juvenile when in the care of Hall of Fame conditioner Todd Pletcher, and made a winning debut for Cox in Fair Grounds Race Course's Pago Hop on New Year's Eve after selling for $400,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale.

This year, A Mo Reay reached her full potential when scoring her first graded victories in the Grade 3 Bayakoa at Oaklawn Park and the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita Park. Her best finish in three start since came in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis in July at Ellis Park where she crossed the wire third and was elevated to second via disqualification.

Out of the graded stakes-placed Pioneerof the Nile mare Margaret Reay, A Mo Reay was initially purchased for $400,000 by Spendthrift Farm and MyRacehorse.com at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She has banked field-best earnings of $812,775 through a record of 15-5-2-3.

Flavien Prat has been tasked with the ride from post 2.

Godolphin's Kentucky homebred Nostalgic [post 4, Junior Alvarado] returned to the winner's circle last out with a rallying 1 1/2-length victory in an August 19 optional claimer at the Spa that garnered a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure. The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro earned her first win since taking Aqueduct's Grade 3 Gazelle last April from just off the pace under Jose Ortiz, an effort that propelled her to a start in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks where she finished a distant 10th.

In addition to her Gazelle score, Nostalgic garnered graded black type when third in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks last summer at the Spa and second beaten a neck in the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm Handicap in November at the Big A. She holds a career record of 13-4-2-1 with $463,275 in total purse earnings.

Completing the field is Holly Crest Farm's graded stakes-placed New Jersey homebred Riding Pretty [post 1, Jairo Rendon], who enters from a dominant 9 1/2-length romp in an optional claimer for state-breds on September 2 at Monmouth Park for trainer Eddie Owens, Jr. The Jack Milton dark bay was third in the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks two starts back and earned two stakes placings against fellow state-breds when third in the Jersey Girl Handicap on July 8 and second defeated a neck in the Smart N Classy Handicap in June.

A second generation homebred, Riding Pretty is out of the unraced Girolamo mare High Renaissance, a half-sister to Holy Crest Farm homebreds Speaking, a multiple stakes-winner for Owens, Jr.; the stakes-placed juvenile Sea Streak; the winning All Even, dam of dual graded stakes-placed Great Navigator; and Stiffed, a multiple graded stakes-placed mare who produced Grade 2-winner Affirmative Lady.

The Beldame is slated as Race 3 on Sunday's nine-race program, which co-features the Grade 3, $150,000 Futurity, a “Win and You're In” for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron, and the rescheduled Grade 3, $150,000 Noble Damsel. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

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This year's edition of the prestigious $750,000 Canadian International (G1T), set for this Sunday at Woodbine, has once again attracted a top-class field of turf talents from across the world.

Having returned after a year's absence – the race was paused in 2022 due to travel complications prompted by the worldwide pandemic – the 84th edition of the International will see eight runners vie for top prize in the 1 ¼-mile race contested over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

The stakes-laden day of racing, which also features the $750,000 E.P. Taylor (G1T), $250,000 Nearctic (G2T), and $200,000 Algonquin (five furlongs on the inner turf), will include a special tribute to the 50th anniversary of the legendary Secretariat's iconic 1973 International triumph, highlighted by a “Big Red” exhibit presented by the National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame, showcased at Woodbine from October 5-8.

The powerhouse trio of owner Godolphin, trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick return to Woodbine after teaming to win the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T) with Master of The Seas (IRE), a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” event, on September 16. ​ ​

In 2021, Godolphin and Appleby won the International when Walton Street (GB) waltzed to a 5 ¾-length score with Frankie Dettori in the irons.

This time, they will look to Godolphin homebred, multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Nations Pride (IRE), a globetrotting 4-year-old son of Teofilo (IRE)-Important Time (IRE), to carry their hopes.

After a runner-up result in his September 2021 debut at two, Nations Pride reeled off four straight subsequent victories.

The bay was then entered to run in the 2022 Belmont Derby after competing in the Group 1 Epsom Derby in June.

Nations Pride impressed in his first North American test, running second in the first leg of the Caesars Turf Triple series last July and built on that performance with a 1 ¾- length triumph in the $1 million Caesars Saratoga Derby (G1T) a month later.

After those efforts, he travelled to Keeneland where he finished fifth, 3 ¾ lengths behind stablemate Rebel's Romance, in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) in November.

Nations Pride then spent the early part of 2023 in Meydan where he won the Dubai Millennium Stakes and finished third to Lord North in the Dubai Turf.

His return to Europe yielded a stirring score in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (G1T) at Munich in late July.

“He beat a solid field of horses that day on ground which was softer than he would prefer,” said Appleby, of the three-length victory at 1 ¼ miles over “yielding' ground.

The International will mark Nations Pride's first race since the win in Germany.

“Visually, his win in the Jockey Club Derby at Aqueduct,” noted Appleby of Nations Pride's most impressive victory. “We were stepping him back up to the mile and a half which was a slight concern, but he travelled so well and won with ease.”

Appleby believes his charge will appreciate running over the E.P. Taylor course.

“He should be suited to the fair track at Woodbine,” said Appleby. “He has shown huge versatility in both Europe, North America, and Dubai. He has a great constitution and is very relaxed which has no doubt contributed to him winning from a mile up to a mile and a half.”

Grade 1 winner Adhamo (IRE), a 5-year-old son of Intello (GER)-Foreign Tune (GB), has flourished in the U.S. after four wins, including a Group 3 victory, in France. Trained by Chad Brown, the chestnut, owned by Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, Louis Lazzinarro LLC, and Michael Caruso, is 5-3-4 mark from 18 starts, with his biggest victory to date coming in the 2022 United Nations (G1T) Stakes. Bred by Wertheimer et Frere, Adhamo (IRE) will contest his seventh straight Grade 1 race.

British Royalty, a 5-year-old son of English Channel-Queen Martha, is no stranger to success on the E.P. Taylor turf, having won the 2021 Breeders' Stakes (third jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown), at 1 ½ miles. Trained by Barbara Minshall, who co-owns with Bruce Lunsford, the bay gelding, bred in Ontario by Richard Lister, is 2-4-1 from 21 career starts.

Owned by Three Diamonds Farm, 6-year-old Dynadrive, trained by Michael Maker, will make his second start at Woodbine. The son of Temple City-Harbingerofthings was seventh in a 7 ½-furlong inner turf race at the Toronto oval in his third lifetime start on October 13, 2019. The dark bay gelding, bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm LLC, has composed a mark of 8-6-2 from 31 races.

English Conqueror, fourth in the 2021 edition of the Canadian International, is trained by Darwin Banach for owner William Sorokolit, Jr. The 6-year-old son of English Channel-Regal Conqueror, who is 3-4-8 from 26 starts, has raced three times in the U.S., earning a pair of seconds and a third. He was bred in Ontario by JWS Farms.

Trained by dual hall of famer Mark Casse for owner Gary Barber, 5-year-old Palazzi will look to make it four straight wins on Sunday. The son of Pioneerof the Nile-Kindle heads into the International off three straight triumphs, two on turf, the other on Tapeta, including his most recent victory, a half-length win in the 1 ¼-mile Singspiel (G3T) on September 9. Overall, the bay gelding, bred in Kentucky by HnR Nothhaft Horseracing LLC and Pioneerof the Nile Syndicate, is 5-3-2 from 23 races.

Royal Champion (IRE), trained by Roger Varian, will make his North American debut in the International. Bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, the 5-year-old son of Shamardal-Emirates Queen (GB) is 4-0-3 from 12 starts. The bay gelding won the Wolferton Stakes at Ascot in June and was third in the Group 2 York Stakes at the end of July.

Trainer Michael Maker's second entrant comes in the form of Starting Over, a 6-year-old grey son of Liam's Map-Vanishing. Bred in Kentucky by George Strawbridge, Jr., the gelding has fashioned a record of 4-3-4 from 21 starts. Owned by Nice Guys Stable, the well-traveled Starting Over will be making his first start outside of the U.S. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Joshua Tree (IRE) is the only three-time winner of the Canadian International with successes in 2010, 2012, and 2013, along with a second-place finish in 2011. Other notable winners include Secretariat, All Along, Chief Bearhart, Singspiel, Youth, Snow Knight, Dahlia, and George Royal.

PLEASE NOTE: As part of SECRETARIAT'S 50th ANNIVERSARY EXHIBIT presented by the National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame, jockey Eddie Maple, who was aboard “Big Red” in the 1973 Canadian International, will be signing on autographs on the third floor at Woodbine, from noon-2 p.m. this Sunday.

Field for the Grade 1 Canadian International
Post position – Jockey – Trainer ​

1 – British Royalty – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Barbara Minshall

2 – Dynadrive – Rafael Hernandez – Michael Maker

3 – Palazzi – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

4 – Nations Pride (IRE) – William Buick – Charlie Appleby

5 – English Conqueror – Javier Castellano – Darwin Banach

6 – Starting Over – Trevor McCarthy – Michael Maker

7 – Adhamo (IRE) – Kazushi Kimura – Chad Brown

8 – Royal Champion (IRE) – James Doyle – Roger Varian

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