Woodbine features four Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races this weekend, two each on Saturday and Sunday. The winner of each race earns an automatic starting berth and all-expenses paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 1-2.
Coming up on Sunday 2012 Horse of the Year Wise Dan will seek to defend his title in the $1 million Woodbine Mile (G1) and win his ninth win in a row. The Charles LoPresti trainee is the 2-5 morning line favorite in the field of six.
The Woodbine Mile anchors an outstanding card on Sunday that includes the $300,000 Canadian (G2), $150,000 Ontario Derby (G3) and the $300,000 Northern Dancer Turf (G1).
The juveniles take center stage on Saturday with the $200,000 Natalma (G2) for two-year-old fillies and the $200,000 Summer for juvenile colts and geldings.
Here is a look at Saturday’s betting action:
The Natalma
Appreciating is one of four in here sent out by the Mark Casse barn that has won this race four times including last year with Spring Venture and in 2011 with Northern passion. Our top pick was stalked the early pace, moved from tenth and surged to the front in the stretch with a bold move while under a hand ride and drew off to win by 1 1/2 lengths in a sharp effort.
The filly should only get better with the added furlong and has a solid pedigree. She is by Sky Mesa out of a Dehere mare that has dropped four other turf winners including stakes winner Buddy's Humor ($387,078).
Ready to Act ships in from New York for the Chad Brown barn. The $200,000 Keeneland purchase was a good looking maiden winner in her debut at the Spa going 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass. Three have come out of that race to run back including next out winner Duff One, who graduated on Aug. 9 at the Spa.
The filly should have no problem handling the extra ground here. She is by More Than ready out of a Mizzen Mast mare, her first foal to race. The barn is 28% winners moving runners from sprint to route.
The Summer
Matador checked in fourth in the Vandal in his debut, beaten 3 1/4 lengths for the top spot. The colt was bothered coming out of the gate, stalked the early pace and finished evenly behind a talented runner in Go Greeley, who came back to win the Simcoe in his next outing at Woodbine on Aug. 28.
The colt should move forward with a race under his belt and has a decent enough turf pedigree. He is by Malibu Moon out of an Elusive Quality mare that has dropped one other foal to race, 1 for 3 Jadira ($26,861) who broke maiden on turf. Decent value if this guy goes off near his 6-1 morning line.
School On a Hill ships in from Arlington Park for the Catalano barn and is cross entered today in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Stakes. The colt was a good looking maiden winner in his debut at Arlington Park going a mile on the turf. The runner up Mighty Brown came back to run second in the Sunday Silence in his next outing and the third place finisher Smarty's Echo came back to graduate in his next start on Sept. 6 at Arlington Park.
The colt is out of the stakes winner My Meggie Meg ($39,900) who has dropped four other winners, top earner Don't Tell Mommy ($119,092).
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