Al Hudaiba, Voyager punch BC tickets at Woodbine

Although drifting towards the stands after making the lead in deep stretch of the $361,157 Summer (G1) at Woodbine on Saturday, the experience and class of Al Hudaiba proved too much for his seven rivals in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge prep for the Juvenile Turf (G1).

Favored at approximately 3-5, Al Hudaiba bided his time in sixth as longshot Quipster carved out a soft pace of :23.67, :47.96, and 1:12.47. Making a five-wide bid turning for home under Will Buick, Al Hudaiba surged to overtake his rivals and, despite the ducking out, won going away by 1 3/4 lengths. Second choice Oscar finished second, three-quarters of a length in front of Induction.

A homebred racing for Godolphin and trained by Charlie Appleby, Al Hudaiba paid $3.30 after covering one mile on firm ground in 1:35.66.

Al Hudaiba has now won four of six starts. Prior to the Summer, the son of Dark Angel won the Superlative (G2) at Newmarket by a nose and then finished third, beaten a half-length, as the favorite in the Vintage (G2) at Goodwood. 

Finishing ahead of Al Hudaiba in the Vintage were Dr Rascal and subsequent Acomb (G3) winner Haffner, who were expected to be leading contenders in the Vincent O’ Brien National (G1) at the Curragh on Sunday.

Al Hudaiba was produced by A’shaari, a Dubawi full sister to Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) winner Wuheida. Both were reared by multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Hibaayeb.

Mark Casse had five of the 11 starters in the $363,679 Natalma (G1) and the most fancied of them, Voyager, provided the Hall of Fame trainer with a record extending ninth win in the one-mile grass test for two-year-old fillies.

Under Javier Castellano, Voyager struck the front approaching the eighth pole and maintained an advantage of 1 1/4 lengths at the wire, defeating Soaring Free S. winner De la Renta and Embouteillage. The pacesetting favorite, Lamirada, weakened to seventh.

The third overall choice, Voyager returned $9.50 after completing the course in 1:35.06.

Second in her first two outings on dirt, including the Schuylerville S. at Saratoga, Voyager is now 2-for-2 on the grass, preceding this with a wire-to-wire graduation by a nose going 1 1/16 miles over Saratoga’s inner turf. She is now likely to be pointed toward the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 30, for which she earned an expense paid bid winning the Natalma.

Owned by D J Stable, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Justify was produced by Ontario Colleen (G3) heroine Chart, a daughter of Lea.