Tom Pedulla affords takeaways from a racing weekend highlighted by competitors at Toronto’s Woodbine Racetrack. Woodbine hosted three Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection races Saturday that supplied automated, fees-paid berths in corresponding contests on the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar. The Grade 1, $1 million Rogers Woodbine Mile Stakes (FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Offered by PDJF, Nov. 2) was accompanied by a pair of key races for 2-year-olds, the $500,000, Grade 1 bet365 Summer time Stakes (Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, Nov. 1) and the $500,000 Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes (John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Nov. 1). As well as, the Street to the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve started with Saturday’s working of the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes hile the Street to the Longines Kentucky Oaks bought underway with the Grade 3 Pocahontas Stakes. Each have been run at Churchill Downs.
RELAXED WINNER: Jockey Patrick Husbands knew one key to successful the Rogers Woodbine Mile was to assist Win for the Cash settle into a cushty rhythm within the early going. The 5-year-old Mohaymen gelding did that in a ground-saving journey and went on to higher fellow Mark Casse trainee Filo Di Arianna by 1 ½ lengths. “I have to say I give out respect to Mark,” Husbands stated. “I had an ideal journey. I figured from studying the Racing Type if I come off the tempo, it’s my finest probability. So, when he breaks and he breaks so relaxed, I used to be pleased.” Casse beforehand celebrated Mile victories with the good mare Tepin in 2016 and with World Approval the next season.
BREEDERS’ CUP PREP: Qatar Racing’s New Century, opposing graded-stakes firm for the primary time, edged fellow abroad invader Al Qudra by 1 ¼ lengths within the one-mile Summer time Stakes for coach Andrew Balding and jockey Oisin Murphy. New Century’s rider considered it as a good way to arrange for the Juvenile Turf. “The Qatar Racing crew with Andrew discovered this race and, clearly, it made sense timing-wise for the Breeders’ Cup,” Murphy famous. “Now, he’s going to should be sharper at Del Mar. However he has the category and, hopefully, he can step up once more.”
FITTING ENCORE: And One Extra Time acked up her authoritative 4 ¾-length maiden rating Aug. 8 at Saratoga by presenting coach Mark Casse along with his eighth Natalma triumph. The Omaha Seaside filly, in her third begin, led a sweep of the highest three positions for her barn as she topped stablemates Vixen and Nitrogen. The successful margin was a rallying neck for jockey Rafael Hernandez. The result hardly shocked assistant coach Kathryn Sullivan. “She simply ran splendidly, quite a lot of coronary heart,” Sullivan stated. “We knew from her race at Saratoga that we had a particular filly, however I believe she actually proved it [Saturday].”
GATE TO WIRE: Jonathan’s Means overcame a poor begin and rallied to win his debut by 4 ¼ lengths Aug. 17 at Saratoga Race Course. Owned by Rigney Racing and skilled by Phil Bauer, he displayed a distinct dimension in capturing the Iroquois by 2 ¾ lengths from Owen Almighty. He put himself on the lead for jockey Joel Rosario and by no means regarded again in a rousing efficiency. “From the primary day we purchased him as a weanling, we have been impressed by him,” Bauer stated. “We at all times knew how spectacular he was coaching into his debut and when he gained that day at Saratoga, he did so professionally after lacking the break. Now, exhibiting a completely totally different dimension [in the Iroquois] being on a lead, it’s an incredible feeling shifting ahead.” The victory was price 10 qualifying factors for the 2025 Kentucky Derby.
ON THE RISE: Tracy Farmer homebred La Cara wanted 4 tries to earn her first victory, undertaking that in a giant manner when she required nothing greater than a hand experience from Ricardo Santana Jr. to run away by eight lengths Aug. 11 at Saratoga. The daughter of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Avenue Sense took one other main step ahead for Mark Casse when she edged Liam within the Mud by three-quarters of a size within the Pocahontas. The win allowed her to financial institution the primary 10 qualifying factors towards the 2025 Kentucky Oaks. “It was a fantastic effort by her to again up her maiden win at Saratoga,” stated Allen Hardy, an assistant to Casse. “We bought her again on the Churchill string a pair weeks in the past and she or he’s been impressing us every day coaching into this race.”
