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Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Returns To NBC Sports This Weekend

The “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” will be at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto for two live programs of outstanding turf racing on Saturday, Sept. 18 on NBCSN (5:30-6:30 p.m. ET) ― featuring the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) ― and on Sunday, Sept. 19 on NBCSN (4:30-6 p.m. ET), headlined by the $400,000 Natalma Stakes (G1) and the $400,000 Summer Stakes (G1).

This weekend's programs mark the seventh and eighth telecasts this year in the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of North America's most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6, which will be shown live on NBC and NBCSN. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here.

NBC Sports' coverage will feature commentary and discussion from its International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., led by host Britney Eurton, and analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who won 15 Breeders' Cup races including five victories in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Reporter Nick Luck and handicapper Matt Bernier will be on-site at Woodbine.

Additional highlights of NBC Sports' coverage include:

The first live race on Saturday's show is the prestigious Pattison Canadian International
Saturday's show will include a feature on Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse
Sunday's show will feature an interview with celebrity chef Bobby Flay, the owner and breeder of Pizza Bianca, who runs in Sunday's Natalma Stakes

A field of 10 has been entered in the 25^th Ricoh Woodbine Mile, which will give the winner a free berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1). The race is led by Juddmonte's 5-year-old gelding Set Piece (GB), trained by Brad Cox. A talented stretch-runner, Set Piece reeled off three straight victories at Churchill Downs earlier this year, taking the Opening Verse Stakes in April, the Douglas Park Stakes in May, and the Wise Dan Stakes (G2) in June. His streak ended with a second-place finish behind Got Stormy in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 14, which was also a “Win and You're In” for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile.

Peter Brant's Raging Bull (FR) had a big chance in the 2019 Woodbine Mile, but was impeded in the stretch. He finished fourth but was moved up to third via disqualification. Trained by Chad Brown, Raging Bull has a Grade 1 win this year, taking the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland in April. He will try to rebound from a lackluster performance in the Fourstardave, where he did not accelerate in the final furlong and wound up sixth as the even-money favorite.

The Canadian-based starters are led by Live Oak Plantation's March to the Arch and Gary Barber's Olympic Runner. Both are trained by Mark Casse, who has been inducted into both the Canadian and American Racing Halls of Fame. March to the Arch finished second in last year's race, losing by 1 length after a powerful drive in the stretch came up short. This year, the 5-year-old won the Niagara Stakes over the Woodbine course on July 25, and was recently third in the King Edward Stakes (G3) on Aug. 15. Olympic Runner won the King Edward for his fifth career score. He finished second at Woodbine in the Connaught Cup (G2) prior to the King Edward.

Casse has also entered John Oxley and My Meadowview Farm's 6-year-old Ride a Comet, who has eight wins in 17 races, and is unbeaten in all four of his starts at Woodbine. Racing in the U.S. this year, Ride a Comet has one win in five starts, and was third behind Set Piece in the Wise Dan Stakes.

Clipper Logistics' Space Traveller (GB) will be making his second start in the U.S. this year for trainer Brendan Walsh, after 19 races in the care of Richard Fahey. The 5-year-old Space Traveller rallied well to finish fourth in the Mr. D. Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park on Aug. 14. In 2019, Space Traveller finished eighth in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

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On Sunday, the 1-mile Natalma Stakes for 2-year-old fillies will award an automatic starting position into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), and the 1-mile Summer Stakes for 2-year-olds will offer a free berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

Mark Casse has entered four runners in the Natalma, led by D.J. Stable and Nexus Racing Club's undefeated Diabolic (IRE). After breaking her maiden in May at Gulfstream Park, Diabolic won her last two starts at Woodbine, taking the 5 ½-furlong My Dear Stakes on July 31 on the all-weather surface, and the 6 ½-furlong Catch a Glimpse Stakes on Aug. 21 on the turf course. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber's Canadian-bred Baksheesh broke her maiden by 4-lengths when she won the Muskoka Stakes at Woodbine on Aug. 29 on the all-weather surface.

Godolphin's Wild Beauty GB) has won two races in England this year for trainer Charlie Appleby. After breaking her maiden and winning a novice race, Wild Beauty comes into the Natalma off two-second place finishes, the most recent one being a 1-length defeat as the 5-2 favorite in the Sweet Solera Stakes (G3) on Aug. 7 at Newmarket.

Casse has also entered four starters in the Summer Stakes. His best chance appears to be with Harlequin Ranches' Canadian-bred First Empire, a son of 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner, Classic Empire, out of Silsita by 2000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Macho Uno. First Empire has two wins in three starts, with a 1 ¾-length victory last time out in the Soaring Free Stakes at Woodbine on Aug 21.

Godolphin's Albahr (GB) has won his last three races in England, and each time as the odds-on favorite. Also trained by Appleby, in his most recent start, Albahr captured the 1-mile EBF Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury by three-quarters of length on Aug. 20. The American runners are led by West Point Thoroughbreds, John Ballantyne, and Titletown Racing Stables' Dripping Gold. A son of Lemon Drop Kid, Dripping Gold was an impressive debut winner at Saratoga on Aug. 7, taking a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight by 2 ¼ lengths for trainer Shug McGaughey.

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Bobby Flay Homebred Pizza Bianca Pursuing Fulfilment Of ‘Long-Term Plan’ In Natalma Stakes

The chance to add a Grade 1 victory to Pizza Bianca's pedigree page has her sole owner and breeder, celebrity chef Bobby Flay, making plans to be at Woodbine Racetrack on Sunday (Sept. 19) for the $400,000 Natalma Stakes, a one-mile turf race for 2-year-old fillies.

“The owner is planning on being there and we're all excited,” said Pizza Bianca's trainer Christophe Clement. “For an owner/breeder the black type is a big deal for him and the Grade 1 is also a big deal for him because it's more than just one race, it's a long-term plan.”

The winner receives a ticket to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Fillies Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5 at Del Mar, thanks to the Natalma being part of the Cup's “Win and You're In” series. Clement said that is a great bonus, but “the real attraction is it being a Grade 1. A filly with a Grade 1 is a huge deal.”

Pizza Bianca is a daughter of Fastnet Rock (AUS) out of White Hot (IRE) by Galileo (IRE). Her lone career start was a dominant victory in a $100,000 maiden special weight on July 22 on the inner turf at Saratoga with Joel Rosario riding.

“It was her first time out and she's still learning, but I was happy with the way she behaved the first time out and I was happy with the way she finished and Rosario was very positive about it, so it's exciting,” said Clement, who is looking for his first Natalma victory. “She's very honest. She's been very straight forward since Day One… She's training well. We don't know exactly how good she is, but let's give it a shot. It's a very open kind of a race and we've got a great jock Rosario who knows her and he rode her first time out.”

Meanwhile, trainer Roger Attfield, who won the 2020 Natalma with Lady Speightspeare, is hoping to repeat with her half-sister Ready Lady for her lone owner and breeder Charles Fipke.

“[Ready Lady] is much easier than her half-sister. [Lady Speightspeare] is very tough,” Attfield said. “[Ready Lady] is all class, actually. She's just a lovely filly to be around and as of this moment she's very easy to train. She's just a charm to have.”

Like Pizza Bianca, Ready Lady has had just one career start, a half-length victory on August 28 in a $126,800 maiden special weight on the turf at Woodbine.

“It was an encouraging race, I thought,” Attfield said. “She's trained very well since then and we thought if she did we'd give her a chance like we did for her half-sister at this point last year. It's the same type of timing.”

Lady Speightspeare, a daughter of Speightstown out of Lady Shakespeare, won the 2020 Natalma with Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard en route to a perfect 3-for-3 season and the Sovereign Award for Canada's champion 2-year-old filly of the year.

Wilson will also ride Ready Lady, who is a daughter of More Than Ready.

“It's an interesting family because I've got so much of it,” Attfield said. “In fact, the maiden colt that I'm running in the Summer Stakes [Ready for the Lady] is related. The colt is out of a daughter of Lady Shakespeare [Perfect Lady] by Perfect Soul, which is her family, too. It's a big family thing.”

Attfield, a three-time Natalma winner, said the race could be an important step in Ready Lady's career.

“It's a progression and it's a very prestigious race,” he said. “It's a Grade 1 and she's a class filly with a big pedigree. It just happens that we've only had the one race into her, but it's just the timing of the year. She was late getting started… We've arrived at this point and she's well and healthy and I thought she won a very creditable race and I think she will move up off that race.”

The Natalma field also includes Wild Beauty (GB), who has a record of 2-2-0 in five starts racing in England for owner/breeder Godolphin. “She's a little fighter, really. She ran well last time out,” said Chris Durham, who works for trainer Charles Appleby. “She's done well. She's settled in here really well. We're happy.”

The Natalma Stakes is scheduled as the race eight on Sunday while the companion Grade 1 Summer Stakes is the ninth race. Both Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races will be broadcast live on TSN5 from 4:30-6 p.m. ET.

First race post time on Sunday is set for 1:10 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

$400,000 Natalma Stakes (Grade 1)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Ready Lady – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Roger Attfield

2 – Pizza Bianca – Joel Rosario – Christophe Clement

3 – Guileful – Simon Husbands – Nathan Squires

4 – Royal Engagement – Colby Hernandez – Timothy Hamm

5 – Wild Beauty – Frankie Dettori – Charles Appleby

6 – Baksheesh – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

7 – Diabolic – Antonio Gallardo – Mark Casse

8 – Mrs. Barbara – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

9 – Cardio Princess – Justin Stein – Mark Casse

10 – Eminent Victor –Flavien Prat – Chad Brown

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Pattison Canadian International An Oasis For Veteran Campaigner Desert Encounter

It's a race that always brings out the best in the son of Halling.

On Saturday at Woodbine, Desert Encounter will look to notch his third straight victory in the Grade 1, $600,000 Pattison Canadian International. Should he be successful, he would join Joshua Tree (2010, 2012, 2013) as the only three-time winners of the race.

Run over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course, the race for three-year-olds and up has lured back the 2018 and 2019 champion.

After the worldwide pandemic caused the International to be postponed last year, the 1 ½-mile turf event, a race won by some of the greatest names in the sport, including the legendary Secretariat, is now back on track.

David Simcock, who trains Desert Encounter for Abdulla Al Mansoori, is hoping his 9-year-old veteran can conjure up some of his past Woodbine magic to get back into winning form.

The Irish-bred, whose last win came in the 2019 running of the International, has gone 15 races without a victory. The gelding has posted six runner-up finishes and a pair of thirds over that stretch.

In his most recent start, on Aug. 28 at Royal Windsor, Desert Encounter rallied to finish second in the 1 7/16-mile August Stakes.

“He seems in great order,” said Simcock. “I was really pleased with his last run at Windsor at the end of August and hopefully that sets him up for Saturday.”

After a fourth, second and third to launch his career, Desert Encounter reeled off four straight victories. From October of 2015 to July of 2017, he went 5-2-2 from nine engagements.

Bred by Tally-Ho Stud, he has assembled a 12-10-9 mark from 46 career starts.

What is Simock most proud of when it comes to his veteran campaigner?

“I think just his longevity and consistency is testament to him. He is a kind horse. He is very straightforward to deal with.”

Desert Encounter isn't the only one on his team that enjoys competing at Woodbine.

In 2014, Simock sent out Sheikhzayeroad to win the Grade 1 Northern Dancer, Trade Storm to take the Ricoh Woodbine Mile, and Caspar Netscher to capture the Grade 2 Nearctic.

“I have really enjoyed my trips to Woodbine, but I'm very happy to just let the horse do the talking,” he quipped.

This Saturday, Simcock hopes Desert Encounter speaks volumes about his affinity for the Canadian International.

Although it's been a long time in between drinks for the bay, the Woodbine turf has always been an oasis for the hard-knocking horse.

“The second half of the season is always when this horse comes into himself and the flat track with a good straight helps his style of running.”

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Skygaze Romps To Victory In Belle Mahone At Woodbine

Skygaze, full of run late under rider Patrick Husbands, dashed away from her rivals with ease down the stretch en route to a three-length win in Sunday's $100,000 Belle Mahone Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

Trained by Mark Casse, who won both Woodbine stakes on Saturday, Skygaze, a four-year-old daughter of American Pharoah-Skyscape, broke alertly in the Belle Mahone and sat second to pacesetter Fate Factor, who led the way through the opening quarter timed in :24.79.

Skygaze continued to track Fate Factor through a half in :48.73, but by the three-quarters mark, the positions were reversed.

It was game over mid-way down the lane as Skygaze romped to her fifth victory from 11 career starts for owner Tracy Farmer.

Crystal Glacier, also a Casse trainee, was second, a neck ahead of No Mo Lady. Art of Almost, another Casse charge, was fourth. Final time for the race was 1:42.72.

“By the three-quarter pole, I was loaded,” said Husbands. “She was the best today.”

It was the first stakes win for Skygaze, who was bred by Normandy Farm LLC. She was third in the 2019 edition of the Grade 3 Mazarine and third in the Grade 3 Trillium on June 26, her last start before the Belle Mahone.

“Last time I rode her, she was a little bit quiet,” noted Husbands. “Today, I went alone and warmed her up. It showed in her form that she likes to be in the race and the last time I rode her, she was flat the whole way with me. Today, she showed me that she really wanted to be in the race. She showed she was the best.”

Skygaze paid $5.50 to win.

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