Woodbine hands out three luxury passes to the Breeders’ Cup
The E. P. Taylor, the Summer, and the Natalma, all G1 events, will anchor an exceptional card this Saturday alongside the Woodbine Mile. Diamond Rain seeks redemption, while the 2-year-olds test their mettle against a formidable European contingent
TORONTO, Canada (Special for Turf Diario).— The Woodbine Mile (G1) will capture much of the spotlight this Saturday in Canada, but it will not stand alone. Three other top-level contests will anchor a sensational card and offer automatic, fully funded berths into various Breeders' Cup events through the Win and You’re In program.
The E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1-2000m, turf, CAN$750,000) will once again assemble several of the finest fillies and mares from North America and Europe, with Diamond Rain seeking to settle a lingering score. Twelve months ago, the Godolphin homebred finished just a head behind champion She Feels Pretty (Karakontie) before validating her elite stature with a third-place effort in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1)—the very event awaiting Saturday's winner.
The daughter of Shamardal, trained by Charlie Appleby, rates as the favorite and arrives on the upswing following a stakes victory at York. The distance suits her ideally, having compiled two wins and two seconds across five outings at the trip.
The European challenge also features Venetian Lace (Masar), a two-time G1 runner-up; group winner Jancis(Tamayuz), owned by Chilean Arturo Cousiño; and See The Fire (Sea the Stars), a contender in the latest Filly & Mare Turf. However, the sternest threat could emerge from South African standout Gimme A Nother(Gimmethegreenlight), who lost by a head at Woodbine in 2025 and has since rattled off three consecutive graded victories for Graham Motion. Achieve (Justify) and Somethinabouther (Mendelssohn), her trailing chasing pair in the Beverly D. (G2), will challenge her once more, while Sultana (Always Dreaming) defends home turf.
The Summer Stakes (G1-1600m, turf, CAN$500,000), a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), showcases foreign firepower. Al Hudaiba (Dark Angel) leads the European raid after capturing the Superlative Stakes (G2) at Newmarket and finishing third, just a half-length back, in the Vintage Stakes (G2) at Goodwood. Another Godolphin representative, American-bred Sword Salute (Masar), arrives off an English victory, while Big Money Man (No Nay Never) comes in after placing second in a French listed event.
Mark Casse, a four-time Summer winner, sends out Speaker’s Speech (Speaker's Corner) and Play It Again(Speightstown). The former broke poorly in the Soaring Free (L), closed tremendous ground, and only missed by a head to De la Renta (Oscar Performance); with John Velazquez taking the reins, he looms as a dangerous live longshot. Quipster (Practical Joke), third that afternoon, alongside Induction and Let Em Know (Jackie's Warrior), complete an opposition that lacks mileage but retains vast upside.
Casse holds an even stronger hand in the Natalma Stakes (G1-1600m, turf, CAN$500,000), where the top prize is a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). An eight-time winner of the race, the trainer entered five fillies, though Nicki Knows Best (Mendelssohn), Voyager (Justify), and Bounce Back (Hard Spun) are also cross-entered in the Summer and are expected to remain here.
Royal Foxtrot (Olympiad) and Ez Miss Sassy (Speaker's Corner) round out his deep squad, but favoritism will belong to Lamirada (Army Mule). Conditioned by Josie Carroll, she created a massive impression when breaking her maiden by 11 3/4 lengths over the Woodbine Tapeta. She now shifts to turf while taking a steep rise in class.
De la Renta enters bolstered by her victory in the Soaring Free, whereas Cattrall (Corniche), Runaway Bride(Charlatan), and Embouteillage (Kingman) arrive fresh off maiden wins. Featuring lightly raced fillies loaded with raw potential, the Natalma shapes up as the most wide-open of the three support features accompanying the Woodbine Mile on an afternoon that could largely chart the course toward the Breeders’ Cup.
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