After impressing her dual Hall of Fame trainer during a dirt breeze on a cool morning at Keeneland Oct. 21, Natalma Stakes (G1T) winner Voyager will make a surface switch and compete in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) instead of the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T).
The daughter of Justify worked in company on the outside of trainer Mark Casse's Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) contender Measure just after the track reopened from its 9 a.m. renovation break. The pair worked a half-mile in a bullet :47, according to Keeneland clockers, the fastest of 16 workers at the distance. However, it was not the work itself that made the final decision, but the gallop out in which she held strong with Measure before pulling ahead as they turned into the backstretch.
"I wanted to watch her work today. I thought her work was as impressive as it can get," Casse said of Voyager. "They went well, but I wanted to see what they did afterward. Turf horses tend to work a good half-mile (on the dirt) and then kind of fall apart—she took off. So that's all I needed to see. She's ready, and I think she's live."
Voyager made her first two starts sprinting on the dirt, finishing second on debut at Churchill Downs after a slow start and then finishing second in the Schuylerville Stakes, 5 1/2 lengths behind the runaway pacesetter Harper's Corner, a pre-entrant in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T), while finishing 6 1/4 lengths clear of third.
Casse's main goal was to get his filly around two-turns and, being stabled at Saratoga Race Course, the only option for that was on the grass. She was successful in her first attempt on turf, setting the pace and holding on by a nose to break her maiden at 1 1/16 miles. With that win under her belt, Casse then sent her to Woodbine and took the 1-mile Natalma by 1 1/4 lengths coming from off the pace.
"She was always head of the class," Casse said of the filly's early ability. "If there was a two-turn race on the dirt (at Saratoga), I would have run her on the dirt. I wanted to get two turns in her. I think that's important.
"When she won, there's a grade 1 in Toronto, the Natalma, and I said, 'I think she can win that,' so we went there. We always had intended after winning the Natalma, to run in the (Juvenile Fillies) Turf. But, she's been here at Keeneland now for about three weeks and she has just trained phenomenal over the dirt. We're going to give it a shot."
Casse also pre-entered Bill and Liz Poston Racing and Brad Smith's Lexi's Charm in the Juvenile Fillies.
Casse was also pleased with the work of Measure, who races for Gary Barber, Bridlewood Farm, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. The 3-year-old daughter of Essential Quality has improved as the year has progressed and the distances have become longer. Despite not winning this year, she's placed in three straight grade 1 races, coming up just a neck short of winning the Alabama Stakes (G1).
"She's getting better. She got very unlucky last time, she made a couple runs and got stopped in the Cotillion," Casse said. "She needs pace, and there's going to be some serious pace. If it falls apart, she's going to come running. She always tries. I think the race sets up nice for her."
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Nitrogen, Classic Q Record Final Breezes Ahead of Distaff
One of those expected pace horses in the $2 million Distaff is her star stablemate, Nitrogen. Already a champion in both Canada and the United States, the 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro filly aims to seal up another championship trophy in her case with a Distaff triumph.
The D. J. Stable homebred put in her final work for the Distaff when going a half-mile by herself in :48. She broke off slow, but when Casse radioed to exercise rider Autumn Lavertu to ask her a bit, Nitrogen "leveled off and took off."
"She looked super, I couldn't have been more pleased," Casse said. "For her, she's not much of a workhorse. Today, not only did she work good, but she was really eager going out. I thought she got over Keeneland very well. I couldn't be more pleased. She's ready."
Nitrogen's lone race on the dirt at Keeneland was a head defeat in the 2025 Spinster Stakes (G1) in her first start against older horses. She finished ahead of Scylla that day, who would turn the tables a month later and win the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Casse is confident Nitrogen is at her all-time best ahead of this trip to Keeneland.
"We have a different Nitrogen now," Casse said. "I'm not worried at all, she got over the track good. We've been a little more aggressive early, and that's been the difference, and we're going to be aggressive in the Breeders' Cup."
A final worker for Casse came Oct. 20 when Classic Q completed a half-mile on dirt in :48 2/5 as she prepares for either the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) against males or the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T).
The 4-year-old Classic Empire filly—owned by Barber, Blue Crevalle Racing, and Eclipse—has never raced the 1 3/16-mile distance of the Filly and Mare Turf, but has proven successful on the Keeneland track when winning the Oct. 3 First Lady Stakes (G1T).
She has been at her peak this year, winning a pair of grade 1s and the $1 million Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile (G2T) in her past four starts, a turnaround Casse credits to letting her roll as she pleases instead of trying to force her to settle like they did earlier in her career.
"I kept trying to get her to settle, but she doesn't want to settle," Casse said. "We went to plan B: let's let her roll. The amazing thing is last time (in the First Lady) she did settle. Maturity, she's a serious horse. If you look at her record, I feel like she, at this point in time, is the most accomplished turf filly in North America."
Even with her accomplishments on turf, should she return for a 5-year-old campaign, there could be a shakeup in surface similar to Nitrogen and Voyager.
"At some point I have to try her on the dirt, she trains phenomenal on the dirt," Casse said. "I worked her again yesterday, there's just never been an opportunity to run her on the dirt. If she runs at 5, she may take a different route."
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Forever Young, Sovereignty Arrive at Keeneland
Standing along the Keeneland rail Wednesday morning quickly turned into the feel of a celebrity sighting just before 8 a.m. when global superstar Forever Young emerged from the barn area to a chorus of camera snaps as he entered the track.
The son of Real Steel arrived at Keeneland the night before and had his first gallop over the surface, taking an easy lap around the track as he prepares to defend his title in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
At the same time, Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Napoleon Solo was also getting one of his earliest spins around the surface. Trained by Chad Summers, the son of Liam's Map was pre-entered with first preference in the Classic and second preference in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty is also on the grounds, arriving early Wednesday morning from Saratoga.
In addition to the Casse runners, other Breeders' Cup runners on the dirt worktab included:
- Purple Rein Racing and Mark Davis' Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) contender He Is No Lie, who breezed 3 furlongs in :35 4/5 for trainer Doug O'Neill.
- TSP Enterprises' Juvenile Fillies contender and Frizette Stakes (G1) winner Dotsy, who breezed 4 furlongs in :48 1/5 for trainer John Grabowski.
- Smart Choice Stable's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) contender Wood Island, who breezed 4 furlongs in :48 1/5 for trainer George Weaver. The son of Jackie's Warrior is fifth on the also-eligible list.
