Summer Stakes: Mysterious Night earns BC Juvenile Turf berth for Godolphin, Appleby

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The white-faced English raider Mysterious Night punched his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup with an authoritative score under William Buick in Saturday’s Grade 1 Summer on the Woodbine Mile undercard.

Mysterious Night ($3.10) stalked the leaders in fourth on the backstretch of the one-turn mile, as Ninetyfour Expos set honest fractions while being pressed by Chiseler.

Buick angled Mysterious Night off the inside for the drive and they hit the front in mid-stretch before drawing off for 5 3/4-length tally, in a time of 1:34.98 over the firm turf. Mysterious Night was given an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

“The track’s in great condition, as good as it always is,” Buick said. “We knew the horse was going to like it, fast ground. He traveled through the race beautifully. I was quite impressed with the way he picked up. He gave me plenty of confidence throughout the race. It was perfect for him. Hopefully, he can go on from here.”

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Saratoga shipper Appraise closed belatedly for second. He was followed by Phillip My Dear, Ninetyfour Expos, Stayhonor Goodside, Sammy Stone, and Chiseler.

It was the second straight victory in the Summer for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby, who won it with Albahr in 2021.

“He got a lively trip around,” said assistant trainer Alex Merriman.

A homebred son of Dark Angel bred in Ireland by Godolphin, Mysterious Night earned $300,000 of the $516,000 purse. The win earned him a fees-paid berth into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland in November.

Godolphin, Appleby, and Buick won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar with Modern Games, who races later on today in the Woodbine Mile.