An annual highlight of Woodbine’s meet is the Canadian Stakes Presented by the Japan Racing Association, a Grade 2 event for fillies and mares age 3 and older going about 1 1/8 miles on the E.P. Taylor turf course.

This year’s renewal set for Saturday, Sept. 9, is headlined by Fev Rover. The classy Irish-bred will attempt to become the third filly or mare in history to win the Canadian in back-to-back years and join Classic Stamp in 2004-’05 and Starship Jubilee in 2018-’19.

1. Fev Rover (8-5 morning-line odds): She’s reached peak form this year at age 5 with wins in the Nassau Stakes on this course back in June and most recently an easy pace-setting score in the Beverly D. Stakes at Colonial Downs on Aug. 12. Sandwiched in between came a fine third-place finish in the Diana Stakes at Saratoga, losing by a length. A standout in this field, Fev Rover’s versatility will be helpful if she wants to cede the early lead to Miss Dracarys and sit just off of that rival.

JOCKEY: Patrick Husbands; TRAINER: Mark Casse

2. Moira (3-1): Reigning Canadian Horse of the Year has not found her 2022 form so far this year at age 4, finishing second in all three of her starts including behind Fev Rover in the Nassau and Miss Dracarys in the Dance Smartly Stakes on this course last out. Has more than enough class to be a factor, though.

JOCKEY: Rafael Hernandez; TRAINER: Kevin Attard

3. Miss Dracarys (5-2): Impressed in her first start this year when wiring the field in the Dance Smartly Aug. 20 at Woodbine, and she wheels back on just three weeks of rest after taking nine months off prior to her return. She led all the way in her two final starts of 2022 as well, so there’s no doubt about the strategy Saturday. The main threat to Fev Rover.

JOCKEY: Dylan Davis; TRAINER: Neil Drysdale

Skims wins Sands Point (Chelsea Durand/NYRA)

4. Skims (6-1): Has assembled a solid race record competing in stakes over the past couple of years highlighted by a  Grade 2 win last fall in New York. Dropped back into allowance company in June and easily won a 1 1/8-mile race at Belmont Park over Atomic Blonde. British-bred daughter of superstar Frankel is 2-for-3 at this distance and she’s certainly capable of picking off a few runners in the stretch and boosting the trifecta payout if Fev Rover and Miss Dracarys go at it up front.

JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Shug McGaughey

5. Atomic Blonde (8-1): German-bred won a Group 3 race in her home country and finished second in the Italian Oaks, both in 2022, but she is 0-for-4 since shipping to North America this year with two seconds, including to Skims back in June and last out in a 1 1/8-mile stakes at Laurel Park. Speed figures are a cut below the best here.

JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Christophe Clement

6. Talbeyah (15-1): Deep closer has raced six times in North America since coming over from England – three times on synthetic in 2022 and three races on turf this year. She’s finished fourth twice and fifth once on grass and was 1-for-3 last year on Woodbine’s Tapeta Footings main track. Might be entered as an option for Casse, Husbands, and owner Tracy Farmer in case the turf course conditions are not suitable for stablemate Fev Rover, because she looks overmatched on paper against this group.

JOCKEY: Patrick Husbands; TRAINER: Mark Casse

7. Ready Lady (20-1): Finished third behind Miss Dracarys and Moira last out in the Dance Smartly, rallying late but still defeated by 4 ¼ lengths. She’s competed mainly in allowance races prior to that with three wins in 12 starts on turf. A trifecta filler at best.

JOCKEY: Emma-Jayne Wilson; TRAINER: Roger Attfield

THE PICK: Fev Rover

LIVE LONGSHOT: Skims

SUPERFECTA: 1-3-4-2