Naval Power Team Seeks Third Straight Woodbine Mile

Fans attending Woodbine Sept. 14 might have a feeling of déjà vu when they see the royal blue silks of Godolphin enter the starting gate on the back of jockey William Buick aboard a well-fancied horse trained by Charlie Appleby.

However, their eyes are not deceiving them. The connections that have won the last two editions of the CA$1 million Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T) are back to attempt a historic three-peat with group 2 winner Naval Power .

"Woodbine is a fair track and is always well maintained," Appleby said. "This horse has won on both quick and yielding ground, so we don't have any concerns ahead of the weekend."

The impressiveness of the trio's accomplishment with their last two winners, Modern Games  and Master of The Seas , was not solely in their triumph over Woodbine's premier turf race, but emphasized when both followed up as winners in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T).

As an important stepping stone to the $2 million race, the Woodbine Mile winner will receive an automatic, fees-paid berth into the Nov. 2 Mile at Del Mar thanks to the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

Before Naval Power has the opportunity to give his connections a third straight double, the 4-year-old son of Teofilo  must overcome seven competitors while returning from a four-month layoff that followed runner-up performances in the April 12 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland and May 4 Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs.

"We have been delighted with his two runs in the USA to date," Appleby said. "He had a nice break after his run at Churchill and the team are very happy with him."

Video: Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S. (G1T)

Casse Enters Strong Trio

For Appleby to join Charles LoPresti as the only trainers to win three consecutive Woodbine miles, he must defeat a strong trio of contenders hailing from the barn of Mark Casse.

Filo Di Arianna  earned a berth in Saturday's race with a narrow victory in the Aug. 23 King Edward Stakes (G2T). Owned by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, and Peter Deutsch, the 8-year-old Drosselmeyer  gelding is a perfect 5-for-5 on Woodbine's grass.

Kazushi Kimura returns to the saddle after riding the gelding to victory two starts back in the Highlander Stakes (G2T). Sahin Civaci, who rode Filo Di Arianna in the King Edward, will instead ride Barber's My Boy Prince .

A five-time stakes winner, My Boy Prince was upset as the 3-5 favorite in the Aug. 23 King's Plate Stakes when defeated three-quarters of a length by filly Caitlinhergrtness , to whom he was giving five pounds. This time, as the lone 3-year-old, he will carry 3-5 pounds less than his competition.

With the Canadian classic behind him, Casse now reroutes the son of Cairo Prince   back to the turf, over which he has placed twice in grade 1s.

Completing Casse's trifecta of entrants is Live Oak Plantation's Win for the Money , a stakes winner at Gulfstream Park in May.

Also in the Field

Yeguada Centurion's group 1-winning Big Rock  adds blinkers and makes his first trip across the Atlantic in need of a fresh start. His 4-year-old season has not gone according to plan, finishing off the board in three group 1 events.

Chiefswood Stables' Playmea Tune  was defeated a neck by 2023 champion Canadian sprinter Patches O'Houlihan  in the Aug. 23 Bold Venture Stakes (G3). However, he posted a career-best Equibase Speed Figure of 111 in his first career defeat.

The Woodbine Mile is race 10 with post time at 6:16 p.m. ET.