Notable Speech repeats in Woodbine Mile; Gimme a Nother takes E.P. Taylor

Godolphin’s defending champion Notable Speech rolled past his leading challenger, Deterministic, to score an historic repeat victory in Saturday’s $739,614 Woodbine Mile (G1). In the process, the 7-10 favorite booked his ticket to a Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) title defense at Keeneland.

Trained by Charlie Appleby and piloted by William Buick, Notable Speech joined Hall of Famer Wise Dan (2012-13) as the only two-time winners of the Woodbine feature. Wise Dan went on to capture back-to-back editions of the Breeders’ Cup Mile as well. Notable Speech has now put himself in line to achieve the same Woodbine/Breeders’ Cup double for the second year in a row. 

After the victories by Notable Speech and stablemate Al Hudaiba in the Summer (G1), Diamond Rain was favored to make it a Godolphin triple in “Win and You’re In” events in the $540,655 E.P. Taylor (G1). But she checked in a one-paced fifth behind South African export Gimme a Nother, who earned her spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) in a blanket finish with European shippers See the Fire, Jancis, and Venetian Lace. 

Woodbine Mile (G1)

A year ago, Notable Speech won the Woodbine Mile on the inner turf, when the E.P. Taylor course was undergoing renovation. In Saturday’s title defense, the son of Dubawi met a deeper field on the newly revamped course proper, and he confirmed his superiority.

Deterministic, who brought a six-race winning streak into Woodbine, promised to give him a battle. Aside from his resume as a multiple Grade 1 star, the Miguel Clement trainee had a dangerous profile as the controlling speed. Hence Deterministic attracted plenty of early money before ultimately going off as the 1.10-1 second choice.

For much of the way, Deterministic had things his own way through sensible fractions of :24.36, :47.89, and 1:10.73 on the firm turf. Notable Speech was content to settle several lengths back in fifth, but when angled out to find a seam down the lane, he delivered his trademark change of gear. 

Overhauling Deterministic by 1 1/4 lengths, Notable Speech polished off the mile in 1:33.86 to rack up his seventh Grade/Group 1 trophy.

“They were kind of all in the line a little bit, and I was looking to follow Deterministic, and that spot just wasn't available,” Buick told Woodbine publicity.

“So, I took the next best spot. He's a horse with a turn of foot, so I wasn't really that worried. The only thing is that you just make sure we’ve got some running room in the top of the straight. But they were just coming a little bit from the outside. But he's a brave horse, and he's a very good horse. He shows his turn of foot.”

Deterministic crossed the wire 2 1/4 lengths clear of Gas Me Up, who was replicating last year’s third-place effort. Itsastormymonday got up for fourth, trailed by Pierre and French invader Silius. British shipper Archivist was a vet scratch, and Irish Aces was also withdrawn.

Notable Speech sports a mark of 19-10-1-1 with more than $4.4 million in earnings. Hero of the 2000 Guineas (G1) and Sussex (G1) in 2024, the chestnut was third in that fall’s Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar. Notable Speech was an unlucky runner-up in last year’s Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) before regaining the winning thread in North America, earning an Eclipse Award as champion turf male. He added major wins in this season’s Lockinge (G1) and the Aug. 22 City of York (G1), where he dropped back to seven furlongs and coped with softer going. 

“He's just a very classy horse, and he's got a great racing brain to go with it,” Buick said. “He’s an incredible horse, really.”

Slated to begin his stud career under the Darley banner next year, the homebred is out of the Invincible Spirit mare Swift Rose, a half-sister to 2021 Natalma (G1) winner Wild Beauty. 

E.P. Taylor (G1)

Drawing post 1 proved to be a blessing for Gimme a Nother, whose ground-saving trip was key in her narrow victory over wide-rallying rivals. But the Graham Motion mare also had the tactical finesse to draft just behind the early crawl, and that well-judged ride by Hall of Famer John Velazquez was no less decisive.

Gimme a Nother had closed from farther back in the Beverly D. (G2) last time out, and the same pacesetter who nearly stole it at Colonial Downs, Achieve, tried again here. Achieve strolled through splits of :26.52, :51.77, and 1:16.60 before the tracking Venetian Lace challenged at the mile mark in 1:40.26.

While Achieve soon beat a retreat, and Venetian Lace briefly took over, the mad dash for home was just beginning. Diamond Rain had every chance, only to look like a dour stayer caught flat-footed in the cavalry charge. Jancis and See the Fire had to fan out wide from farther back, yet both still caught fire with blistering stretch rallies.

Gimme a Nother shifted off the fence to avoid the backpedaling Achieve, seized a seam to the inside of Venetian Lace, and quickened smartly. See the Fire and Jancis kept coming, but Gimme a Nother fought on to keep her neck in front.

By clocking 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.71, the South African champion achieved two milestones. She earned her first North American Grade 1 laurel and became a millionaire. 

“I wanted to bide my time,” Velazquez said. “I didn’t want to get too soon in there. Plus, I had to wait anyway. Once I saw the Godolphin horse coming in the outside (Diamond Rain), tried to follow the other Godolphin horse (Venetian Lace). Man, she responded right away. I was so pleased that when I asked, she went through that little hole there between the horses. I kept running. Very impressive.”

See the Fire’s slow start proved costly, as she settled for her eighth career Group/Grade 1 placing. Jancis was another nose away in third, and a neck up on fourth-placer Venetian Lace. Next came Diamond Rain, Sultana, Somethinabouther, and Achieve.

Gimme a Nother, who returned $8.90 as the 3.45-1 second choice, advanced her overall scorecard to 15-11-3-0, $1,135,765. A perfect 7-for-7 in her homeland, she was runner-up in the 2025 Hillsborough (G2), Modesty (G3), and Canadian (G2). Her only unplaced effort came on yielding ground at Saratoga in last year’s New York (G1). After notching her first stateside win in the John C. Mabee (G2) at Del Mar, Gimme a Nother unfortunately had a setback that ruled her out of the Breeders’ Cup at the same seaside track.

Fully acclimated to Northern Hemisphere living in 2026, Gimme a Nother continued her ascent in the division. The daughter of Gimmethegreenlight returned triumphant in the June 13 Eatontown (G3) at Monmouth Park, her stepping stone to the Beverly D., and she extended her streak to four in a row here. 

“She came to me undefeated, so that was a lot of pressure,” Motion said. “But she’s been remarkable. You know, we hoped to get her to the Breeders’ Cup last year, and it didn’t quite work out. And ever since we gave her a little break over the winter, she’s been unbeatable.  She’s very special.”

“I think for a horse to accomplish what she’s done, you know, coming from South Africa, winning as many races as she has on two different continents – that’s extraordinary,” Motion said. “I mean, it speaks so much for South African breeding, so much for South African racing, and just goes to show they’re amongst the best of our of our American bred horses.”

Gimme a Nother was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein. The bay is a third-generation champion, following her dam, the Tiger Ridge mare Nother Russia, and granddam Mother Russia.