The $500,000 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes drew a quality field of 2-year-old fillies set to compete in the one-mile, Grade 1 turf race at Woodbine that serves as a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Oct. 31 John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
One of the main contenders is #10 Deep Learning, an exciting filly from the barn of Chad Brown. The daughter of Cairo Prince debuted on Aug. 8 in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Saratoga. After settling in the back half of the field, she blazed her final quarter-mile in :23.13 to fly past the leaders and triumph by 3 1/4 lengths.
Deep Learning’s powerful finish at Saratoga stamps her as a logical Natalma win threat, but #5 Dance To The Music is a formidable rival from across the Atlantic.
Dance To The Music is unbeaten in two starts for trainer Charlie Appleby, who has won the Natalma twice with La Pelosa (2018) and Wild Beauty (2021). Dance To The Music won a sprint in her career debut at Newmarket in England by one length, and then she stepped up in class for Newmarket’s Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes and pressed the pace on her way to victory by a neck.
Both La Pelosa and Wild Beauty prepped for the Natalma with runner-up finishes in the Sweet Solera, so Dance To The Music boasts better credentials than her predecessors. She has every chance to give Appleby a third Natalma triumph.
We suggest bettors play an exacta box ticket counting on Deep Learning and Dance To The Music to run 1-2 in either order. We feel confident these two talented fillies will emerge a cut above their rivals, but it’s difficult to gauge which will prevail in the showdown.
If you want to spend more money and pursue bigger payoffs, consider also betting trifectas and superfectas adding #1 Corsia Veloce, #3 Sweet Fusion, and #6 Hot Mash underneath.
Corsia Veloce and Sweet Fusion both ran well when finishing first and second in a quick renewal of the Catch a Glimpse Stakes at Woodbine last month. Meanwhile, Hot Mash exits a 7 3/4-length debut win at Ellis Park in which she pressed blazing pace fractions of :20.27 and :42.64.
Wagering Strategy on a $10 Budget
$5 exacta box: 5,10 (total cost: $10)
What to say at the betting window: Woodbine, Race 8, $5 exacta box 5,10
Wagering Strategy on a $30 Budget
$6 exacta: box 5,10 (total cost: $12)
What to say at the betting window: Woodbine, Race 8, $6 exacta box 5,10
$1.80 trifecta: 5,10 with 5,10 with 1,3,6 (total cost: $10.80)
What to say at the betting window: Woodbine, Race 8, $1.80 trifecta 5,10 with 5,10 with 1,3,6
$0.60 superfecta: 5,10 with 5,10 with 1,3,6 with 1,3,6 (total cost: $7.20)
What to say at the betting window: Woodbine, Race 8, $0.60 superfecta 5,10 with 5,10 with 1,3,6 with 1,3,6
Good luck, and enjoy the race!
