Turf is the word this weekend and then again next Saturday, September 14 for Turf Champions Day.
The Niagara Overnight Stakes, worth $100,000, is the feature race on September 7 while the rich Wonder Where Stakes, $250,000, is Sunday and that race completes the Triple Tiara for three-year-old Canadian-bred fillies.
Of course, as has been the case throughout the summer, heavy rain is in the forecast once again. Friday will see a lot of precipitation which means horses will have a soggy E.P. Taylor turf course to contend with on Saturday.
King’s Plate 2023 winner PARAMOUNT PRINCE is entered in the Niagara but won’t run unless it is taken off the turf, according to trainer Mark Casse.
JWS Farms’ ENGLISH CONQUEROR, trained by Darwin Banach, would be one of the public’s choices in the Niagara should the race be run over wet grass. The seven-year-old was a winner on the Aqueduct turf this summer and fifth in the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga before a recent third-place finish in a stakes race at Delaware.
The original Niagara Stakes was inaugurated in 1953 when it was run on the dirt at Fort Erie. It was moved to the grass in 1957 at Woodbine and won by some greats such as One for All, Belle Geste, Momigi and others.
The Niagara was re-named the Northern Dancer Turf in 2006 and was a Grade 1. The last running of the Northern Dancer was in 2019 when the race became the Niagara Overnight.
While the Canadian Triple Crown continues Tuesday at Fort Erie with the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the Triple Tiara ends Sunday at Woodbine with the 10-furlong Wonder Where.
Just seven fillies are entered in the $250,000 Wonder Where including two maiden fillies from Chiefswood Stables, the placed turf lovers Saccharine and Quality Presence. The Oaks winner Kin’s Concerto was not entered but Bison City Stakes winner STORMCAST, who won that Tapeta stake by 7 3/4 lengths, will no doubt be favoured as she tries to stretch out to 1 1/4 miles.
HURRICANE CLAIR, third in the Oaks and second in the Bison City for owners David Robotham and Partners 3, is also a top contender.
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