For the third occasion in a quartet of years, the Godolphin team alongside coach Charlie Appleby are setting their sights on the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile presented by PDJF, having secured a coveted “Win and You’re In” entry via the Canadian $1 million Grade 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile Stakes. This triumph saw Notable Speech conquer an unpromising beginning, clinching victory in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series qualifier held at Woodbine on September 13.
Notably, this same partnership previously achieved the Woodbine Mile/Breeders’ Cup Mile “double” in 2022, thanks to Modern Games, and replicated this success in 2023 with Master of the Seas. Now, they are poised to attempt a remarkable “three-peat” on November 1 at Del Mar.
The Saturday event at Woodbine didn’t unfold flawlessly for the 4-year-old Notable Speech. He experienced a slight stumble exiting the No. 2 gate, and encountered a minor obstruction as the No. 3 competitor, One Stripe (an import from South Africa), veered ahead. However, jockey William Buick skillfully regained control, maneuvering Notable Speech into a strategic, ground-saving position behind the leading contenders.
As they navigated the second bend on Woodbine’s inner turf track, Notable Speech advanced beyond his competitors on the outer lane. He smoothly overtook the frontrunners and secured a triumphant victory, finishing 1 3/4 lengths ahead.
Buick revealed that he momentarily feared a replay of Notable Speech’s prior race, the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois in Deauville, France. In that instance, the colt had seemed destined for victory after enduring three consecutive disheartening results earlier in the season, but was ultimately hindered by congestion and had to settle for a close second-place outcome.
“He’s encountered a season of misfortune. It’s gratifying to finally secure a win for him,” expressed assistant trainer Alex Merriam.
Notable Speech completed the mile distance on firm terrain in a time of 1:35.33. My Boy Prince secured the second spot, followed by Gas Me Up in third, and Naptown in fourth. One Stripe, under the guidance of trainer Graham Motion, finished fifth in his inaugural North American appearance. Win for the Money, the previous year’s Woodbine Mile victor, ended in sixth place.
Notable Speech’s 3-year-old campaign from the prior year was highlighted by a notable triumph in the Group 1 English Two Thousand Guineas. It culminated in a commendable third-place finish in the 2024 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile presented by PDJF, where he was only narrowly defeated by three-quarters of a length. This was achieved without the advantage of a North American preparatory race, an opportunity he had on the recent Saturday.
“I perceive no diminishment in his capabilities compared to last year,” Merriam remarked. “He delivered a commendable performance in the (Breeders’ Cup) race last year. I believe that the accumulated experience of having traveled there and now returning here will contribute to refining his form for the two-turn configuration” at Del Mar.
Argos, representing U.S. training, disrupted the streak of European victories in the Grade 1 bet365 Summer Stakes, denying them their fourth win in the last half-decade. He edged out Godolphin’s Wild Desert in a nail-biting photo finish held on September 13 at Woodbine.
This victory provided trainer Riley Mott, the offspring of Hall of Fame inductee Bill Mott, with his second Grade 1 win. Mott’s initial Grade 1 triumph occurred earlier in the summer, when World Beater emerged victorious in the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes.
The strategic decision to extend Argos’s race distance to a mile for the ‘Win and You’re In’ Canadian $502,000 Summer Stakes proved pivotal. Argos, a progeny of Nyquist out of the Irish-bred Acclamation mare Athenian, was skillfully guided by jockey Flavien Prat, who was riding him for the second occasion. Argos capitalized on a rail-hugging journey, closely trailing the pacesetter Marcus J, who set fractions of :23.26, :48.14, and 1:12.38.
As they approached the home stretch, Argos strategically angled outward, gaining momentum along the seven-wide path, and set his sights on the leaders positioned in the center of the course. He seized the lead and barely fended off a fierce late surge from Wild Desert, who finished as the runner-up.
Argos ($15.70) emerged victorious by a head, completing the race in 1:36.90 on the firm inner turf course.
Wild Desert, trained by Charlie Appleby, who had lingered at the rear of the pack for the majority of the race, ultimately finished a length ahead of Two Out Hero, who secured the third position.
With his success in the Summer Stakes, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series event, Argos earned an automatic entry into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, scheduled for October 31 at Del Mar. – Molly Rollins
Later during the event, Corsia Veloce upheld her undefeated status with a determined performance in the Canadian $500,000 Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes. The 2-year-old filly elevated her record to a perfect 3-for-3 with her triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series ‘Win and You’re In’ competition.
Fraser Aebly, an emerging talent among Woodbine’s jockey ranks, celebrated his inaugural Grade 1 victory aboard Corsia Veloce. The young jockey executed a flawless ride for trainer Josie Carroll, strategically settling off a controlled early pace before skillfully maneuvering through a gap between horses and propelling the filly into clear contention at the top of the stretch. Corsia Veloce demonstrated her tenacity by outdueling the determined frontrunners La Culasse and Hot Mash, ultimately securing victory by a half-length. Corsia Veloce ($26.50) completed the turf mile in a time of 1:37.42.
Having previously triumphed at Woodbine on both the turf and the all-weather main track in sprint distances, Saturday’s race marked Corsia Veloce’s inaugural attempt at a mile-long distance involving two turns.
“This is exceptionally special. I’ve trained other members of the family, which enhances the sentiment for all of us,” Carroll expressed. “It’s truly exhilarating. It’s not often that you witness a filly like this achieving a three-for-three record as a young horse, and the spirited manner in which she accomplished it is simply thrilling.”
The Natalma victory guaranteed Corsia Veloce a starting position in the $1 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf starting gate, scheduled for October 31 at Del Mar.
Hot Mash, who had made an impressive debut victory at Ellis Park in her preceding race, secured the second position, a neck ahead of the longshot La Culasse (57-1), who finished third. Dance to the Music, the favored European contender, finished in fourth. – Molly Rollins
