Woodbine Racetrack | Horse Racing Free Tips

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! Heralds Close To Blockbuster Graded Weekend

With a nod to Chicago motorsport legend Jan Gabriel's famous call of Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!, the blockbuster weekend of horse racing isn't in the books just yet with 11 graded stakes scheduled. Out of those, three guarantee a starting spot in next month's 40th Breeders' Cup World Championships –'Win and You're In'.

In Toronto, Woodbine Racetrack cards the GI E.P. Taylor S. A renewal of the celebrated 1 1/4 grass event, this year's edition includes Godolphin homebred and Dubai multiple group stakes winner With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The 4-year-old filly ran second in the GI Jenny Wiley S. at Keeneland back in the spring before finishing out of the money the next month at Newmarket in the G2 Dahlia S.

Receiving Lasix for the first time, the Charlie Appleby trainee will tangle with Canadian Horse of the Year Moira (Ghostzapper), who won for the first time in over a year in the GII Canadian S. Sept. 9.

“She's doing well,” said Moira's trainer, Kevin Attard. “She's coming off a big win, obviously, and she's had some good works since then.”

With The Moonlight's stablemate, GISW Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), also returns to contest the GI Canadian International S. at Woodbine after winning a Group 1 in Germany over the summer. With Lasix too, the 4-year-old colt is up against GISW Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) from Chad Brown's shedrow, who sends out Juddmonte homebred GSW Masen (GB) (Kingman {GB}) for the Sunday finale in the GII Nearctic S.

Nations Pride | Sarah Andrew

Elsewhere, the tip-top Sunday racing continues at both the Belmont at the Big A meet and at Keeneland.

First, Aqueduct hosts a trio of Grade III events. The Futurity S., which is an opportunity for 2-year-olds to earn a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, is a chance for second out maiden breaker Apollo Ten (Violence) to strut his grass ability. The Christophe Clement trainee will have to grapple from the outside gate with SW Book'em Danno (Bucchero), who tries turf for the first time. Sticking with the lawn, the Noble Damsel S. features veteran MGSW Fluffy Socks (Slumber {GB}), while the Matron S. could be the stakes coming out party for Ever So Sweet (Ire) (Calyx {GB}).

The action at Keeneland isn't quite on the level of Saturday's, but the Association cards a pair of 'Win and You're In' contests. The GI Spinster S. is always a highlight in October, as older females look to gain entry into the GI Breeders' Cup Longines Distaff. A slugfest is in the offing, as champion 3-year-old Nest (Curlin) looks to avenge her loss in the GI Personal Ensign S. Aug. 25 at Saratoga when Idiomatic (Curlin) took home the prize from the first jump. The daughters of multiple leading sire Curlin are in for an epic battle.

“We know she likes this track,” said Nest's Hall of Fame trainer, Todd Pletcher. “We feel good about her that we got two races in her.”

Moving to the Haggin Course where the GII Castle & Key Bourbon S. will fill a position in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, we find a well-matched field of 2-year-olds. Noted (Cairo Prince) recorded his first stakes victory in the Sapling S. at Monmouth Aug. 26 for Repole Stable and should be the favorite come post time. However, don't miss First World War (War Front) who debuted a winner coming from just off the pace at Kentucky Downs last month for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Finally, swinging out to Santa Anita Park, the GIII Zuma Beach S. includes four 2-year-old colts who will be making their first start, while their filly counterpart, the GIII Surfer Girl S. beckons a pair of undefeated runners making their third start in SW Flattery (Flatter) and GSW Dreamfyre (Flameaway).

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A Graded Stakes Saturday We Never Want To End

The parade of graded stakes races this Saturday is like a Christmas tree laden with presents. Towards the end of the celebration, as the wadded paper congregates, there will be a customary wistfulness that slowly sets in. We never want it to end.

With 17, yes 17, graded races on the docket–nine of those have Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' status–it is going to be a splendid day to receive as Belmont at the Big A, Keeneland Race Course, Woodbine Racetrack, Gulfstream Park, Hastings Racecourse and Santa Anita Park hustle to apply the Scotch tape. Cue the carols, please.

Heading to the venerable Big A in Ozone Park, the graded menu expanded when last weekend's GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. was added to Saturday's slate. The 12-furlong grass test includes the reigning GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Rebel's Romance (Dubawi {Ire}) who looking for some New York redemption after unseating his rider around the far turn in the late-July running of the GII Bowling Green S. at Saratoga. The Charlie Appleby trainee is set to face the queen of the blades in MGISW War Like Goddess (English Channel), who still has plenty of fight in her as she faces the boys again for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

If one Grade I wasn't enough for you on this card, then we are going to add two more just for good measure. The GI Frizette S. is a passageway to the GI Breeders' Cup NetJets Juvenile Fillies and Repole Stable has the 9-5 morning-line favorite in Life Talk (Gun Runner), who broke her maiden at second asking Aug. 31 at Saratoga by 6 1/2 lengths. The Todd Pletcher trainee will have to contend with Stonestreet's Emery (More Than Ready), who scratched out of Friday's GI Darley Alcibiades S. at Keeneland to run here for trainer Brad Cox. Also present is Godolphin homebred Central Avenue (Street Sense), who debuted a winner at Colonial Downs, and will try to stretch out for trainer Michael Stidam.

“She [Central Avenue] started going seven-eighths and we thought that might be a little short for her, but she got up anyways,” Stidham said. “She always looked in the mornings like she would come running late and she would [run like that]. The mile is going to be even more helpful for her style.”

The other top race of the day at 'Belmont West' is the GI Champagne S., which offers a ticket straight to the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Juvenile. Once again, Repole Stable held David Aragona's attention with 6-5 morning-line favorite Fierceness (City of Light). The 'TDN Rising Star' had his own way in the Saratoga mud Aug. 25 when the bay colt won that debut by 11 1/4 lengths. His main rival could be fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Timberlake (Into Mischief), who is also entered in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland.

Rounding out the action at Aqueduct is a trio of Grade III turf events which include the Waya S. with GISW McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the Belmont Turf Sprint with GSW Big Invasion (Declaration of War) and finally, English import Measured Time (Frankel {GB}) is up against GISP Webslinger (Constitution) in the Jockey Club Derby Invitational.

Locked | Sarah Andrew

The Keeneland Association which just kicked off its October meet on Friday, has its own take on Christmas come early. Taking to the Haggin Turf Course, the GI First Lady S. for older females sports a rematch of the July running of the GI Diana S. between Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio) and MGISW In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The former bested the latter at Saratoga and the Chad Brown stablesmates are set to do battle again. Not to be overlooked is the Joseph O'Brien trainee Jumbly (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) who returns to the U.S. after finishing fifth in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown Sept. 9.

Moving right along to some more Grade I festivities, the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity offers the winner a shot in the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Juvenile. 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) won at second asking by 7 1/4 lengths at Saratoga Sept. 1 with a 96 Beyer Speed Figure. The Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm-owned chestnut colt for trainer Todd Pletcher will take on New York-bred undefeated hero The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso) for trainer Mike Maker and possibly the aforementioned Timberlake.

“He [Locked] was impressive the time he went two turns at Saratoga,” said Pletcher. “One reason he came here and Fierceness stayed in New York for the Champagne is that I thought the Champagne suited him better with the one start. It worked well that we could find a Grade I for both of them.”

The capstone to Keeneland's Super Saturday is the GI Coolmore Turf Mile, which allows access to the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Mile. Fresh off his 3 3/4-length first North American score in the GI Woodbine Mile, Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will challenge Up to the Mark (Not This Time), who was last seen winning GI Manhattan S. at Belmont. Lane's End recently announced that the 4-year-old colt trained by Todd Pletcher would head their way for stud duty at the conclusion of his racing career.

A pair of Grade II races will complete the Keeneland Saturday graded offering. First, the Woodford S. welcomes turf sprint specialist and G1 Nuthorpe S. at York victor Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) from the yard of Adam West. Meanwhile, MGSW and MGISP Wicked Halo (Gun Runner) tries to secure her spot in the GI Breeders' Cup PNC Bank Filly & Mare Sprint when she sets sail against six others in the Thoroughbred Club of America S.

Before heading west, both Gulfstream Park and Woodbine Racetrack card a graded race each. GSP Maryquitecontrary (First Dude) switches from Shug McGaughey's barn to David Fawkes, as she returns to her home track in the GIII Princess Rooney S, a race which also feeds into the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Up at Woodbine, the GIII Durham Cup S. finds G1 Dubai World Cup runner-up Algiers (Ire) (Shamardal {Ire}) making his first start in North America after trainer Simon Crisford scratched him from the GII Woodward S. last weekend.

Staying put in Canada, Hastings Racecourse cards the GIII BC Premier's H. for 3-year-olds and up. The race includes Accidental Hero (Mo Town), who bested his rival Sunbird (Orb) in the GIII BC Derby last month.

Anisette | Benoit

It would not be a graded Saturday without 'The Great Race Place' and Santa Anita Park has its share. Of course, the GI American Pharoah S., which TDN covered in a special edition on Friday, is a 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Juvenile S. 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic) will square off against seven others in the feature, which includes stablemate Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso).

Speaking of juveniles, the fillies get their chance to shine in the GII Chandelier S. On the line is the opportunity to make the starting gate in the GI Breeders' Cup NetJets Juvenile Fillies. One of the top contenders is Laurent (Practical Joke). The Peter Eurton trainee was second Sept. 9 in the GI Del Mar Debutante S. The dark bay filly is in the blocks right next to the Zedan Racing's Dua (Arrogate). The Bob Baffert trainee was third in the GIII Sorrento S. at Del Mar Aug. 12.

In the race before the American Pharoah S., turf routers will load at the mouth of the downhill course for the GII Rodeo Drive S. Looking for a chance to return for the Breeders' Cup Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf is the undefeated Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}). The 3-year-old will take on older females for the first time. After coming over from England last spring, the Leonard Powell trainee won three in a row, including the GI Del Mar Oaks by 2 3/4 lengths.

Anisette is going to have to try and get past the 9-5 morning-line favorite Didia (Arg) (Orpen) though. She was the runner-up in the GI New York S. at Belmont Park June 9 and has a history of winning from off the bench for trainer Ignacio Correas. Add in some seasoned Southern California stayers like MGSW Closing Remarks (Vronsky) and MGSW Neige Blache (FR) (Anodin {Ire}), and the Rodeo Drive is going to be quite the shopping spree at the windows.

Here's to a Saturday of graded racing that never ends.

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Wade Jost Joins The TDN Writers’ Room Podcast To Tell The Story Of Carson’s Run

When Carson's Run (Cupid) won the GI bet365 Summer S. at Woodbine Racetrack this past weekend, earning a trip to the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, the story was bigger than one horse and one race.

The 2-year-old chestnut colt is named for the 31-year-old son of Wade Jost, who bought into the horse from his classmate at the United States Military Academy, Terry Finley, thorough West Point Thoroughbreds.

Carson Jost continues to battle Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. The story might sound familiar, as Cody's Wish (Curlin) is named in honor of Cody Dorman, who also suffers from the rare genetic disorder.

To learn more about Carson Jost and this colt, Wade Jost was the Green Group Guest of the Week on this week's TDN Writers' Rooom podcast presented by Keeneland.

“It's been emotional, as my voice breaks right now,” Jost said. “We just wanted to do something for Carson. He's never walked and this is an opportunity to give him some focus, give him some limelight. Terry and I have been talking for over a decade about this, the possibility of doing something in his honor. The timing was just right. Carson just turned 31. He wasn't supposed to be with us and was supposed to have passed early in life. But mainly because of all the love he gets from his mother, who has constantly taken care of him, he is still with us.”

The Josts have yet to see Carson's Run compete live, but a trip to the Breeders' Cup and a meeting with the Dorman family is a possibility.

“It sounds like both Cody's Wish and Carson's Run may be at the Breeders' Cup,” Jost said. “If so, we'd love to get together with the Dormans. We'll talk about it after we get through some more races here. It's good that the Breeders' Cup is at Santa Anita on the West Coast, given that we live in Washington State. It may still be tough. Carson has a lot of issues, one of which is a very low immune system. So with everything going on right now, with all the viruses going on in the world, it may be tough to get them down there, but we'll see.”

Jost's military career included fighting in the Gulf War. An inordinate number of people who fought in that war went on to have children born with disabilities. Could that be what happened with Carson?

“The bottom line is we don't know,” Jost said. “But yes, the possibility exists. I know it definitely did for some that have been diagnosed. By and large, this chromosomal disorder is overwhelmingly a matter of one of the two parents carrying it in their chromosomes. But it just hadn't affected them until they had offspring. That didn't happen with my wife and I. So we don't know. Carson was doing studies. We were doing studies for three years after he was born. And we got to a point where the studies got to be too frequent. The blood that they drew, the tests that they did, and we finally just decided that it was time to move on with life and not put him through any more of that rigor. Nothing was ever conclusive for us.”

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the Retired Racehorse Project, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, WinStar Farm, XBTV.com, Lane's End and West Point Thoroughbreds, the team of Zoe Cadman, Bill Finley and Randy Moss delved into another big weekend in North America for trainer Charlie Appleby, who won the GI Woodbine Mile S. and the GIII Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. Cadman gave an update on the Keeneland September Sale and the trio looked ahead to Saturday's GI Pennsylvania Derby and the GI Cotillion S. at Parx. There was also a spirited debate about whether or not running a horse too often or on short rest could be a contributing factor when it comes to breakdowns. Moss said yes. Finley said no.

To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here.

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Woodbine’s GIII Seaway S. Goes Sunday

Woodbine Racetrack isn't done with the graded entertainment as the GIII Seaway S. for 3-year-old fillies and mares going seven furlongs takes to the Tapeta on Sunday.

Drawn to the outside is the last out winner of the GIII Trillium S. July 23 in Toronto, Il Malocchio (Souper Speedy). Cutting back, the Martin Drexler trainee is the morning-line favorite at 5-2.

The 5-year-old will face eight others, including Catherine Day-Phillips trainee Millie Girl (Hard Spun), who finished third in the June 3 GII Royal North S. and in the same spot in the GII Nassau S. July 1–both over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

Also present are a pair of alums from the Sweet Briar Too S. From Kevin Attard's shedrow, Vantarsi (Speightstown) was fifth in that race Aug. 19 and GSP Talk to Ya Later (Perfect Timber) from the Ian Black barn was the runner-up.

Finally, it would not be a Woodbine graded stakes without the presence of Mark Casse. The Hall of Fame trainer sends the youngest female of the bunch to the post in Ticker Tape Home (Medaglia d'Oro). The 3-year-old won the Fury S. in gate-to-wire fashion against state-breds June 10 before running fifth in the July 23 Woodbine Oaks.

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