The Woodbine Mile undercard featured a pair of Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” events for turf two-year-olds. West Point Thoroughbreds and Steve Bouchey’s Carson’s Run went last to first in the $386,267 Summer (G1) to book his ticket in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), and Lael Stables’ She Feels Pretty burst into the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) picture by dominating the $372,221 Natalma (G1).
Summer (G1)
Carson’s Run, the 3.30-1 third choice in the Summer, was just denied last time out by the filly Gala Brand in the With Anticipation (G3) at Saratoga. Regular rider Dylan Davis felt that the youngster was more concentrated on self-preservation racing between horses that day, so he made sure to keep him in his comfort zone at Woodbine, even at the cost of swinging extremely wide into the lane.
The Christophe Clement trainee had saved ground early, though, when he relaxed kindly at the tail of the field. Up front, 1.90-1 favorite My Boy Prince led the way through fractions of :23.46, :47.10, and 1:11.32 on the good course.
Favorite backers might have been concerned pre-race when My Boy Prince had to undergo a last-minute shoe repair in the paddock, and began to show signs of irritated impatience as the proceedings were delayed. But My Boy Prince was on his game once able to resume business as usual, and he rebuffed pace attendant Western Whirl down the stretch.
By that point, Carson’s Run had fanned out into the center of the course and built up eye-catching momentum. Reveling in his isolation, the chestnut surged 2 1/4 lengths clear while completing the one-turn mile in 1:35.70.
My Boy Prince held second by a half-length from another deep closer, the filly Go with Gusto. Tunechi rounded out the superfecta, followed by Souper Attentive; Western Whirl; King of the Track; the disappointing filly Airosa, the 2.55-1 second choice who scratched out of the Natalma to take on males; and the tailed-off Bucyk. The other cross-entered fillies, Bolt Enoree and Golden Canary, opted for the Natalma.
Carson’s Run has bankrolled $314,529 from his 3-2-0-1 line. A $170,000 purchase at OBS this April, the chestnut rallied in time in his July 29 debut at Saratoga.
Bred by Frankfort Park Farm in Kentucky, Carson’s Run initially sold for $35,000 as a “short” (newly-turned) yearling at Keeneland January. He appreciated to $67,000 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July and became a pinhook home run as a two-year-old in training for Randy Miles.
Carson’s Run is the first foal from the Henny Hughes mare Hot N Hectic. She is a half-sister to multiple Grade 3-winning millionaire Rated R Superstar, who recently retired at the grand age of 10. This is the further family of Speech, the track-record setting heroine of the 2020 Ashland (G1) at Keeneland.
Natalma (G1)
She Feels Pretty romped by an even wider margin of 4 1/4 lengths, and in a faster time of 1:35.34, to remain undefeated from two starts.
The first Grade 1 winner for trainer Cherie DeVaux, the 8-1 chance was coming in under the radar after breaking her maiden in a 5 1/2-furlong dash at Ellis Park. Bettors flocked to Godolphin shipper Dazzling Star, sending her off as the 7-5 favorite to emulate trainer Charlie Appleby’s past winners La Pelosa (2018) and Wild Beauty (2021). But Dazzling Star was unable to add to the trophy haul and settled for a non-threatening third.
She Feels Pretty, on the other hand, was traveling conspicuously well as she improved position for Hall of Famer John Velazquez. Bumped at the break, the Karakontie filly found herself far back, but recovered into eighth through an opening quarter in :22.86, and smoothly advanced into fifth by the half in :47.01.
Front-running Golden Canary still held sway after six furlongs in 1:11.81, but the stalking Simply in Front was looming with intent, and She Feels Pretty was poised to strike. Given her cue, She Feels Pretty darted away as much the best.
Simply in Front outperformed her 29-1 odds in second, 2 1/2 lengths to the good of slow-starting Dazzling Star. Ozara was fairly one-paced in fourth, outlasting Golden Canary. Dancing Duchess crossed the wire sixth, only to be disqualified for bludgeoning foes in the stretch, and accordingly demoted to last. The amended order of finish placed Ready to Jam sixth, then Rhapsody, Bolt Enoree, Dea Matrona, She’s Fire, Ms. Tart, Brocknardini, and Dancing Duchess. Go with Gusto and Airosa, mentioned above in the Summer, were scratched.
She Feels Pretty, who rewarded her backers with $18, increased her earnings to $262,379. The $240,000 Keeneland September yearling was bred in Kentucky by Payson Stud. Her dam, Summer Sweet, is a More Than Ready half to a trio of stakes performers including Grade 1-placed Summer Solo, who has produced Grade 2-placed stakes scorer Maedean as well as current Selene (G3) victress Solo Album. Also prominent on the page is multiple French Group 1 victor Act One.
