Woodbine’s “Win and You’re In” prep for the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, the bet365.com Summer Stakes, is set for Saturday as part of a stakes-packed card including two other Challenge Series preps. The Grade 1 Summer Stakes originated on dirt back in the 1950s, was moved to turf in the early 1960s, and since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf was first held in 2007 several runners from the Summer Stakes have gone on to run well in the World Championships, led by Summer-BC Juvenile Turf winner Pluck in 2010.

1. Ready to Battle (20-1 morning-line odds): This filly is one of five trained by Mark Casse in the 14-horse main body of this field that is cross-entered in the Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes on the Sept. 14 card at Woodbine, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Enters off of a win in a seven-furlong maiden race at Woodbine that was rained off the turf and held on the all-weather main track, and she was all out to hold on after leading by five lengths at the top of the stretch. Seems overmatched in this spot.

JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Mark Casse

2. Dream On (12-1): Casse-trained colt dueled for, and held, a short lead in early stretch of his stakes debut last out, the Soaring Free Stakes going 6 ½ furlongs on turf at Woodbine, but could not finish it off and checked in three-quarters of a length behind Cairo Caper. Prior to that, he won a 5 ½-furlong maiden turf sprint at Ellis Park, a race from which the second- and third-place finishers came back to win their next starts. If he can improve and handle stretching out to a mile, he’s got a shot at the upset.

JOCKEY: Sahin Civaci; TRAINER: Mark Casse

3. Vixen (10-1): Another filly cross-entered by Casse in the Natalma, this one reached the winner’s circle in her second career start with an impressive 4 ¾-length score in a one-mile turf race at Ellis Park last month. If she stays in this race she should be a factor under a Hall of Fame jockey.

JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Mark Casse

4. First Resort (4-1): This colt is also entered in the one-mile Iroquois Stakes Saturday at Churchill Downs, where he drew the inside post position. If he ships to Canada, he’ll be making the switch to turf after two solid dirt starts, an easy maiden win going 5 ½ furlongs at Ellis Park and then a runner-up finish to Showcase in the 6 ½-furlong Saratoga Special Stakes, in which he set the pace but tired late. Should handle the surface change and draws a good turf rider in Rispoli. A win candidate if he’s able to set a modest early pace.

JOCKEY: Umberto Rispoli; TRAINER: Eoin Harty

5. Coolcollected (20-1): Races as a gelding for the first time after finishing an even third behind Cairo Caper and Dream On in the Soaring Free Stakes. Had slow starts in his two prior races but managed to win one of them, a six-furlong turf sprint at Woodbine. A candidate to use in exactas and trifectas.

JOCKEY: Ryan Munger; TRAINER: Patrick Dixon

6. Cairo Caper (8-1): Has impressed in his prior three starts including a 1 ½-length win in a six-furlong maiden race on turf and then a gritty three-quarter-length decision over Dream On in the Soaring Free at 6 ½ furlongs. Has a good, stalking style and should be in prime position to try for a third win in a row as he stretches out. Can surprise at a solid price.

JOCKEY: Jose Campos; TRAINER: Nathan Squires

7. Will Reign (15-1): This filly has the same connections as Ready to Battle and would have a better chance at winning this race than that stablemate if she stays in rather than run in the Natalma, even though she’s still a maiden through two career starts. Her speed figures are competitive with the top betting choices.

JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Mark Casse

8. Special Session (20-1): Yet another Casse trainee (more to come) was rallying late in his last race to nearly catch Forty N Five. That was a maiden event moved from turf to Woodbine’s all-weather main track and held at seven furlongs. A come-from-behind type that would need a lot of things to break his way to be a factor.

JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Mark Casse

9. Al Qudra (3-1): Makes his North American debut after winning two of five starts in England, and his most recent race is his best, a 2 ¼-length romp over four opponents in a listed stakes going seven furlongs at Ascot in late July. That was his first try at seven-eighths of a mile and it came on turf rated good to firm. Bullet three-furlong workout at Saratoga on Sept. 6 indicates he’s ready to fire for a jockey-trainer combo that has enjoyed incredible success in North America in recent years, including winning this race in 2022.

JOCKEY: William Buick; TRAINER: Charles Appleby

10. New Century (6-1): Another Euro shipper, he’s 2-for-4 in his home country of England also ships in off of a stakes win, this one coming in front-running fashion as he won a one-mile listed event on good to firm turf at Salisbury. He finished second to Al Qudra in that runner’s listed win at Ascot one start prior, however, and was also fourth behind Al Qudra in his career debut back in June. Obviously will need to improve to overtake that rival, and that’ll be tough after a trans-Atlantic trip.

JOCKEY: Oisin Murphy; TRAINER: Andrew Balding

11. Thread (20-1): Casse filly cross-entered in the Natalma enters off of a driving 5 ½-length win in a 6 ½-furlong maiden race moved to Woodbine’s all-weather track last Friday, Sept. 6. Faced only three fillies in that race and would be hard-pressed to make an impact here if she runs.

JOCKEY: Patrick Husbands; TRAINER: Mark Casse

12. Dewolf (20-1): Finished fourth to Cairo Caper in his debut back in early July but improved considerably to win his second start by a widening 2 ¾ lengths as he took a 6 ½-furlong maiden race on Woodbine’s turf in late August. Another step forward puts him in the mix here.

JOCKEY: Rafael Hernandez; TRAINER: Kevin Attard

13. Forty N Five (20-1): Was second to Coolcollected in his debut and in start number two graduated with a game neck score over Special Session in a seven-furlong maiden race switched to Woodbine’s all-weather track. Has a good, pace-pressing running style and a pedigree to stretch out, and is therefore a candidate for exotic bets. 

JOCKEY: Luis Contreras; TRAINER: Josie Carroll

14. Winterberry (10-1): Races for the same owner and trainer as Vixen and is cross-entered in the Natalma. Won her only start so far, a 6 ½-furlong sprint held on Woodbine’s all-weather track, by controlling the pace on the front end. The filly was not challenged in a 5 ½-length runaway against 10 opponents and will be an intriguing longshot contender if she stays in this race.

JOCKEY: Patrick Husbands; TRAINER: Mark Casse

15. Latin Fever (also-eligible, 10-1): Ships to the U.S. after winning her career debut by a rallying neck, that coming in a seven-furlong turf race at Leopardstown in Ireland back in late July on good to soft turf. Cross-entered in the Natalma as Casse assumes training duties.

JOCKEY: Sahin Civaci; TRAINER: Mark Casse

16. Groot (also-eligible, 20-1): Will need multiple defections to make this field and probably will get them with so many Casse fillies in the main group cross-entered in the Natalma. Still seeking his first win after a fourth and third in his two prior starts, the latter coming behind Forty N Five and Special Session in a seven-furlong race here on the all-weather track. Tough to see his breakthrough coming Saturday.

JOCKEY: Rafael Hernandez; TRAINER: Kevin Attard

17. Nitrogen (also-eligible, 10-1): She joins Vixen and Winterberry as cross-entered fillies in the Natalma racing for Casse and D. J. Stable. Was favored at 7-10 in her lone prior start and lost that one-mile turf race at Woodbine in late August by a neck.

JOCKEY: Emma-Jayne Wilson; TRAINER: Mark Casse

THE PICK: Al Qudra

LIVE LONGSHOT: Cairo Caper

SUPERFECTA: 9-6-2-13