Northern Passion gets dream run to win Natalma at Woodbine
Northern Passion (far right) wins Natalma
With a beautiful run up the rail, Northern Passion passed Dayatthespa to prevail by a length and a half in the Grade 3 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine. Stephanie’s Kitten finished third.
Northern Passion, a two-year-old filly by First Samurai out of A Touch of Glory, is trained by Mark Casse and was ridden by Luis Contreras.
She covered the one mile on the turf in 1:35.00, and returned $14.70, $6.80, and $4.20.
TORONTO, September 17 – Owner John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse look to have a talented starter zeroing in on November’s Breeders’ Cup, after their two-year-old filly Northern Passion nailed down a guaranteed berth via a victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $235,100 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine.
As a ‘Win and You’re In’ event, the winner of the one-mile turf event automatically earns a position in the starting gate for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs on November 4. All entry fees and travel costs will be waived.
Northern Passion, who made a stirring stretch run along the rail, tracked down Dayatthespa over a ‘firm’ E.P. Taylor Turf Course, taking the Natalma by 1 ¼ lengths, which was her first stakes victory in her second added-money attempt. Dayatthespa was second and Stephanie’s Kitten was third.
Casse had three other entrants in the Natalma, with Spirited Miss finishing fourth, Sky Dreamer seventh and Quality Lass tenth.
Bred in Ontario by the late Mel Lawson, Northern Passion, under Woodbine’s leading rider Luis Contreras, traveled the mile in 1:35-flat. She is a daughter of First Samurai.
"No, it wasn’t,” said Contreras, when asked if his game plan was to take an inside path. “But the race went like that and I just took my chance of getting my horse clear.”
For the first half-mile, Contreras had Northern Passion at the back of the pack in the 12-horse field (Anna Sophia was scratched), as Quality Lass led through opening splits of :23.37 and :46.50. Into the final turn, Northern Passion began to pass rivals, en route to notching her second win from three races.
In her start before the Natalma, the 6 ½-furlong Ontario Debutante Stakes, the chestnut was second, just a half-length back, to the talented Tu Endie Wei on August 13.
Her career bow, on July 9, produced a 1 ¼ length score over the Toronto oval Polytrack, at odds of 4-1.
“All I ever heard from dad is that we had a very, very talented filly,” said Norm Casse, assistant trainer to his father, Mark. “She proved that today. Obviously, the Breeders’ Cup is a goal.”
Northern Passion paid $14.70, $6.80 and $4.20, combining with Dayatthespa ($5.90, $4.90) for a $106 exactor. Stephanie’s Kitten ($9.60) completed a $1,192.60 triactor. A $1 superfecta returned $8,453.40.
