Breeders' Stakes still deep despite lacking first two Triple Crown winners
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Sunday’s $500,000 Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine lacks King’s Plate winner Luster and Prince of Wales victor Military Time, but the anchor leg of the Canadian Triple Crown lured a decent field of Canadian-bred 3-year-olds nonetheless headed by Katie’s Grace.
Trained by Catherine Day-Phillips, Katie’s Grace will try to become the 12th filly to win the 1 1/2-mile main turf marathon since 1970. She made her first eight starts on the Tapeta, winning her first stakes going 1 1/16 miles in the $350,000 Bison City on Aug. 8.
Katie’s Grace made a smooth transition to the grass Sept. 6 in the 1 1/4-mile Wonder Where Stakes, the final leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara. After racing 10 lengths off the pace, she rallied outside to finish a close second to Dixie Law after dueling with that rival through the final furlong.
“Being out of a Kitten’s Joy mare, I was excited to get her on the grass,” Day-Phillips said. “She might have been a little bit green, losing a little focus down the lane. She got herself sorted out and dug in and ran a great race.”
Regarding another stretch-out in distance, she said: “By the way she galloped out, it didn’t look like she was at the end of the line.”
Day-Phillips has won the Breeders’ twice – with A Bit O’Gold in 2004 and in 2005 with Jambalaya, who also captured the 2007 Arlington Million. The two geldings have resided at her farm since retiring.
“They’re still turned out together,” Day-Phillips said. “They’re a little gray around the muzzles. They’re happy and doing well. They’re best of friends.”
The six-horse Breeders’ lineup also includes Buium, Bond Market, Keepmypowderdry, and Fire and Wine.
A maiden trained by Kevin Attard, Buium is coming off a solid third in the Prince of Wales, where he was beaten just three-quarters of a length. The stretch-runner finished third in 3 of 4 turf outings, including in the 2025 Cup and Saucer Stakes.
Attard believes Buium has sufficient stamina for the task at hand.
“We know his running style,” Attard said. “Hopefully, there is some good early speed that he can run at and then he can unleash that powerful kick.”
Bond Market is the lone turf winner in the field. He notched his July 5 debut in a maiden special on the inner course and has been idle since ending up sixth in the Aug. 15 King’s Plate.
Keepmypowderdry and Fire and Wine dueled up front in the Prince of Wales, and they could link up on the lead again. Keepmypowderdry finished a close fourth in the Prince of Wales while Fire and Wine faded to fifth.
◗ Canadian champion Paramount Prince switches to turf when going about 1 1/8 miles on the main course in Sunday’s other stakes, the inaugural running of the $150,000 Grand Valley for older Ontario-breds.
Trained by Mark Casse, Paramount Prince is coming off back-to-back Tapeta stakes scores, in the Caledon and Grade 3 Seagram Cup. His best of two turf races was a third in a conditioned allowance on the inner course in June 2025. He finished far back after getting cooked in a speed duel in the 2023 Breeders’.
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