On Sunday at Woodbine, the stakes action will continue with the $300,000 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes. A Grade 1 race carded at a mile and a half on the turf, the stakes race has attracted a field of nine.
Lucky Speed (IRE) tops the competitive field as the favorite at odds of 5-2 on the morning line for trainer Peter Schiergen. A five-year-old son of Silvano (GER), he has been on the board in seven of his ten starts and is a four-time winner. After racing primarily overseas, he made his North American debut in July and won the American St. Leger Stakes (G3) last time out in his second start. Andrasch Starke will be in the irons and they are scheduled to break from post five.
Second choice at morning line odds of 3-1 is Triple Threat (IRE) for trainer Bill Mott. A five-year-old son of Monsun (GER) bred and owned in partnership by Team Valor and Gary Barber, he has won four of his fifteen starts and has won graded stakes races in both France and the United States. He was eleventh in the Arlington Million (G1) last time out and will try to rebound with Joel Rosario aboard from the rail.
Also in the field at morning line odds of 4-1 is Danish Dynaformer, the lone three-year-old in the race taking on older rivals for trainer Roger Attfield. A bay son of Dynaformer, he has won four of his nine starts for owner and breeder Charles Fipke and was a major player in the Canadian Triple Crown. He won the Breeders’ Stakes last time out and will have regular rider Patrick Husbands aboard from post three.
The Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby features the two biggest names from the Triple Crown trail September 24 at Parx as a field of 12 gathers in one of the most intriguing betting races of the year.
The $1 million Cotillion Stakes September 24 at Parx features a true clash of the titans as the six-horse field is headlined by the undefeated, five-time grade 1 winner Songbird who figures to face the most stern challenge of her career.
In a completely wide open renewal of the Presque Isle Mile September 18 at Presque Isle Downs, 13 runners including the also-eligible will contest the eight furlong trip over synthetic footing.
Champion Songbird is set to make her much-anticipated return to the races in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on Saturday. The Grade 2 event will be run at a mile and a sixteenth and has attracted a field of seven.
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