Voyager travels well to win Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes
Voyager, with Javier Castellano in the irons, earned her first stakes crown in Saturday’s Johnnie Walker Natalma (G1T) for two-year-old fillies, at Woodbine.
The $500,000 Natalma, contested at one mile on the E. P. Taylor turf, is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, with the winner earning an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, a Grade 1 race at the same distance set for Oct. 30 at Keeneland.
Lamirada, a dominant first-out winner, got away quickly from the gate and was immediately flanked by Cattrall and Embouteillage in the early going, as Castellano settled Voyager into sixth of 11 through an opening quarter of :23.09 over firm going. Lamirada was still leading at the half timed in :46.13 and had increased her lead to one length over Cattrall, who remained just behind her on the outside.
Voyager, making her fourth career start and second at the stakes level – the Mark Casse trainee was second in the Schuylerville at Saratoga on July 3 – had begun to make headway on the leader heading into the turn for home and was swung four-wide under encouragement from Castellano strides before straightening for the drive to the wire. The bay assumed command 350 yards from the line and was then tasked with holding off a trio of rivals looking to track her down in the late going.
At the finish, Voyager was 1 ¼ lengths in front of De la Renta. Embouteillage was a further head back, while fellow Casse trainee Bounce Back (one of five sent out by the dual Hall of Famer conditioner) was fourth.
The daughter of Justify out of the Lea mare Chart stopped the teletimer in 1:35.06, giving Casse his record ninth Natalma victory.
“He [Casse] basically he told me to ride with a lot of confidence,” said Castellano, who was aboard the D.J. Stable LLC-owned filly for the first time. “I think it is a great course… great feeling. Very impressive the way she did it today. I like the way she did it. Very professional behind the speed. I like the way she did it turning for home and she took off. She’s finished really well – very professional horse.”
Voyager, who recorded a hard-fought nose win to break her maiden in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race on the inner turf at Saratoga on Aug. 1, is now 2-2-0 from four starts.
“She’s a racehorse,” said assistant trainer Kathryn Sullivan. “She’s a professional. She’s done nothing wrong so far for us, and she’s just very impressive.”
Bred in Kentucky by Stoneriggs Farm, Voyager was a $300,000 purchase at the 2025 Keeneland Association January Horses of All Ages Sale. She paid $9.50 for the win.
~ Chris Lomon, Woodbine
Heavy Pour and jockey Gaddel Martinez winning the Branded Cities Vigil Stakes (G3) on September 12, 2026 at Woodbine. (Michael Burns Photo)
Heavy Pour makes it four on the hop, wiring the field in the Vigil
Pennsylvania shipper Heavy Pour went wire to wire to win the $175,000 Branded Cities Vigil Stakes (Grade 3) Saturday at Woodbine. Ridden by Gaddiel Martinez, the five-year-old chestnut gelding broke sharply from post 8 and cleared the field of eight leaving the chute in the 7-furlong main track sprint for three-year-olds and upward.
Martinez had the white-blinkered son of Stormy Atlantic in front through an opening quarter mile in :22.32. Piper’s Factor, Souped Up and Wagstaff comprised the early second flight. Several lengths back, Twin City, Notorious Gangster and Mansetti followed, with longshot Baytown Dreamer trailing.
Into the turn, Heavy Pour continued to lead comfortably through an opening half mile in :44.68. Turning for home, Souped Up loomed outside of the pacesetter as did 35-1 shot Wagstaff on the rail.
Inside the eighth pole through an opening six panels in 1:09.12, Heavy Pour rebroke on the lead with reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Mansetti now rallying down the center of the track. In the final 70 yards, Martinez kept the Tim Girten-trained Heavy Pour on the throttle, holding on to win by a convincing length in a final time of 1:22.06.
Mansetti was second, Wagstaff was third and second choice, Piper’s Factor was fourth. Race favourite Notorious Gangster, never factored and checked in seventh.
Bred in Pennsylvania by Richard Bosshard, Heavy Pour earned his first career graded stakes win, while winning his fourth race in succession, three of the winning rides authored by Martinez. Based at Presque Isle Downs, Heavy Pour (Stormy Atlantic – Charm the Crowd, by Theatrical*IRE) improved to 8-3-2 from 23 lifetime starts. The chestnut added another synthetic score to bump his record on the surface to 8-3-2 from 18 starts. It was his first win at the distance in his second attempt.
Heavy Pour was listed at 10-1 morning line, went off at 13-1 and paid $29.30 for his road trip win.
~ Phil McSween, Woodbine
Lupa (IRE) returns to win column in Ontario Matron
Lupa (IRE) used her natural speed and capitalized on a return to synthetic to wire a short field and win the $175,000 HPIbet Ontario Matron Stakes (Grade 3) at Woodbine. With regular reinsman Fraser Aebly up, the lightly-raced four-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega (IRE), was brushed slightly by Hurricane Clair as the gates opened, but quickly assumed command while saving ground on the rail into the clubhouse turn.
Lupa (IRE) and jockey Fraser Aebly winning the HPIbet Ontario Matron Stakes (G3) on September 12, 2026 at Woodbine. (Michael Burns Photo)
Speedy Freeze and Queen Azteca were pre-card stewards’ scratches, reducing the field from seven to five in the one and one-sixteenths mile main track route for fillies and mares three-year-olds and up.
Aebly, aboard for all eight of Lupa’s previous races, had the bay filly on the point through an opening quarter mile in :23.20. Serendipity tracked in second, favourite Fantastical was third on the rail. Hurricane Clair raced fourth and War Painter trailed the field.
Lupa (IRE), under a light Aebly guzzle continued to lead through an opening half mile in :46.83 Mid-turn, recent Grade 3 Trillium Stakes winner Fantastical emerged to get first run at the leader, through a six-furlong clocking of 1:11.37.
Well rated by Aebly, Lupa (IRE) saved good ground entering the lane and kicked home in resounding fashion to win by 3 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:43.38. Race favourite Fantastical was second, longshot War Painter was third, and Hurricane Clair was fourth.
In winning the Ontario Matron, the Josie Carroll trained Lupa (IRE) turned the tables on Fantastical, who caught her late to win the Trillium. Owned by Mark Dodson, Lupa (IRE) showed her natural speed again last out in the Grade 2-Canadian Stakes on Woodbine’s inner turf, leading much of the way before finishing third.
An elated Aebly gave his filly a congratulatory pat past the wire as she earned her first career graded score. “She’s a little quirky to sit on, but she’s all heart. She gives you everything she has every time, and Josie and the whole team over there do such an amazing job with her, and she’s a pleasure to ride when she runs,” said Aebly, who has now guided Lupa (IRE) to all four of her lifetime wins.
Going fourth off the layoff, Lupa (IRE) had flirted with graded success, finishing second in the Grade 3 Trillium and third recently in the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes on turf. Hall of Fame conditioner Carroll was quick to credit her team for the filly’s maturation.
“This is tremendously rewarding. This filly is very talented, and I have to give a shout out to my crew on this one. Taylor Chapman, that gallops her in the morning as Lupa tries to run off every day and she eases her back every day. She’s really taught her some manners, and it’s starting to pay off,” said the 4-time King’s Plate winning trainer.
“Today, she sure looked good on the synthetic. So, you know, I think she’s a versatile horse, yes, but she does seem to really take to the surface.”
Bred in Ireland by Rabbah Bloodstock Limited, Lupa (IRE) appeared at 2-1 on the morning line, went off at 4-1 and paid a square $10.50 for the win. With the graded Ontario Matron on her resume, Lupa (IRE) improved to 4-1-1 from 9 starts, while earning her third win on synthetic and third in four tries at the distance.
~ Phil McSween, Woodbine
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