Nations Pride (IRE) winning the 2023 Grade 1 Canadian International with jockey William Buick. (Michael Burns Photo)
Woodbine Release
TORONTO, Ont. – Woodbine Entertainment recently released the nominations for its upcoming Fall Turf Showcase, a two-day festival of premier turf racing at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5.
Headlining the weekend is the highly anticipated return of the historic Grade 1 Canadian International.
As with all major Fall turf events in 2025, the Showcase will be contested over the bet365 Inner Turf Course while the E.P. Taylor Turf Course is being renovated.
$750,000 Canadian International (Grade 1, 1 ½ Miles, 3-Year-Olds & Up)
The Canadian International (G1) makes its much-celebrated return to the calendar in 2025. A race steeped in tradition, it has attracted champions from around the globe and remains one of Canada’s most internationally significant Thoroughbred contests.
Nations Pride (IRE), the winner of most recent Canadian International in 2023, headlines the group of 13 nominated. The Godolphin standout most recently was third in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer in August at Saratoga. Godolphin would be looking to win their third consecutive Canadian International.
My Boy Prince, who most recently finished second in the Grade 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile, is one of three horses nominated by Woodbine’s leading trainer Mark Casse.
To view the nominations for the Canadian International, click here.
$250,000 Nearctic Stakes (Grade 2, 5 Furlongs, 3-Year-Olds & Up)
The Nearctic Stakes (G2) is an annual turf sprint that draws elite runners from North America and beyond, adding depth and speed to Saturday’s program.
The nominations list has 15 horses listed, including 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Nobals. The Larry Rivelli trained winner of more than $1.8 million is two for three lifetime at Woodbine, winning the 2022 Woodstock Stakes and last year’s Kennedy Road Stakes (G2). Both of those wins were on the All-Weather track.
Dual Group 1 winner Khaadem (IRE) is also nominated to the Nearctic for owner Mrs. Fitriani Hay and trainer Charlie Hills. The nine-year-old has made only two prior starts in North America, both at Kentucky Downs, including a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Sprint on August 30.
The notable nominees also include Bring Theband Home (recent winner of the Grade 2 Troy on August 3 at Saratoga), Governor Sam (third in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint) and Its Time to Shine (winner of the Pink Lloyd Stakes on July 27).
My Boy Prince is also nominated for the Nearctic.
To view the nominations for the Nearctic Stakes (G2), click here.
$200,000 bet365 Dance Smartly Stakes (Grade 2, 1 1/16 Miles, Fillies & Mares, 3-Year-Olds & Up)
This year, the Dance Smartly Stakes (G2) offers the extra incentive of the winner receiving an automatic berth into the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park in January.
2024 King’s Plate winner Caitlinhergrtness is one of 25 nominated to the Dance Smartly.
Trained by Kevin Attard, Caitlinhergrtness posted a dominating victory in the Grade 3 Ontario Matron Stakes on Turf Champions Day (September 13). It was the second graded stakes win of the season for the four-year-old. She is one of three nominees for Attard.
Grade 1 winner Sacred Wish is among the nominees for trainer George Weaver. Although winless in five starts in 2025, the five-year-old picked up her first Grade 1 win in December’s Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar and has earned over $1.1 million.
Charles Fipke’s Ready for Shirl is also on the list. The Roger Attfield trainee was most recently third in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes (August 16) after winning the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes on July 20.
Trainer Graham Motion leads all barns with five horses nominated, including South African import Distant Winter (SAF) and recent Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap winner (Del Mar) Heredia.
To view the Dance Smartly (G2) nominations, click here.
The Fall Turf Showcase action continues Sunday, October 5 with a pair of two-year-old events.
$250,000 Cup & Saucer Stakes (1 1/16 Miles, Canadian-Bred 2-Year-Olds)
A long-standing test for Canadian juvenile talent, the Cup & Saucer has launched the careers of many of the country’s brightest stars.
A total of 14 Canadian foaled two-year-olds have been nominated.
Al and Bill Ulwelling’s filly La Culasse is among the nominees. The daughter of Knicks Go ran third in the Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma on September 13. Dixie Law, who was sixth in the Natalma (G1), is also nominated for trainer Dale Desruisseaux.
Mark Casse’s nominees include stakes winner Casson, who was sixth in the Grade 1 bet365 Summer Stakes on September 13. The Casse barn also nominated Military Time, a Gun Runner colt that won on debut on August 31.
To view the Cup & Saucer Stakes nominations, click here.
$175,000 bet365 Algonquin Stakes (5 Furlongs, 2-Year-Olds)
The bet365 Algonquin Stakes will see rising two-year-old stars compete in a five-furlong sprint.
Trainer George Weaver has five nominated, including recent stakes winners Johnny’s Red Storm and Royal Testament.
Matching Weaver’s five nominees is trainer Wesley Ward, as the two trainers make up 10 of the 18 nominees. Ward’s group includes a pair of debut winners in Bacio (Monmouth, August 8) and Should’ve (Kentucky Downs, August 28).
To view the nominations for the bet365 Algonquin Stakes, click here.
For more information on the Fall Turf Showcase weekend (October 4 and 5), visit Woodbine.com or follow @WoodbineTB and @WoodbineComms on X.
