Woodbine
Gierkink: Woodbine horses to watch for week of Sept. 19
BEAT THE BENCHMARK
Trainer: Chad Brown
Last race: Sept. 18, 8th
Finish: 3rd by 4
Beyer: 75
Going from a debut score in a maiden special weight dash at Saratoga to the 14-horse Grade 1 Natalma Stakes at a mile was a tall order, but she ran a winning race. After getting impeded at the break, she was bumped while in tight between rivals in the stretch before closing to finish behind two fillies who enjoyed clear sailing on the outside.
CHANNEL MAKER
Trainer: Danny Vella
Last race: Sept. 18, 6th
Finish: 3rd by 3
Beyer: 87
After being taken back out of an early front-end battle in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes, he awaited room behind the leaders in the stretch before digging in to edge out the well-regarded Tiz a Slam for third.