Trainer Charlie Appleby arrives at Woodbine with a clear favorite for Saturday’s $500,000 Summer Stakes (G1). The British handler, who has captured the race twice—Albahr in 2021 and Mysterious Night in 2022—stakes his three‑time winner Al Hudaiba, the 2‑to‑1 morning‑line favorite. Al Hudaiba, a Godolphin homebred, has already claimed victory in the Boodles Superlative Stakes (G2) at Newmarket and posted a narrow half‑length defeat as the 6‑5 favorite in the Coral Vintage (G2) at Goodwood. His résumé makes him the horse to beat in a 1‑mile contest that draws 12 runners, many of whom are still searching for their first win.
The Summer Stakes, part of Woodbine’s annual Turf Festival, operates as a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, guaranteeing the victor a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Keeneland this fall. Jockey William Buick takes the mount, and the long, lush stretch at Woodbine should favor the European import’s stamina.
Mark Casse Entertains Five Horses in a 12‑Entry Field
At the same meeting, Mark Casse fields a modest contingent of five runners—Play It Again, Speaker’s Speech, Bounce Back, Nicki Knows Best, and Voyager. While Casse’s numbers look impressive, none of these entries are viewed as serious challengers to Al Hudaiba’s supremacy.
One North American contender worth watching is Induction, trained by Graham Motion. Motion previously won the Summer Stakes in 2017 with Untamed Domain, and his current charge broke his maiden at Colonial Downs before drawing post 12. “Honestly, that was a bit of a surprise,” Motion remarked, citing the colt’s professional demeanor and attractive form.
European Horses Lead the Summer Stakes as Breeders’ Cup ‘Win‑and‑You‑‘re‑In’ Qualifier
Given the limited North American talent, the betting focus is squarely on the European contingent. Two other top contenders are Sword Salute, a two‑time winner in England for Godolphin trainer Charlie Johnston, and Big Money Man, an Irish‑bred colt shipped from France under Christopher Head. These three—Al Hudaiba, Sword Salute, and Big Money Man—compose the core of the weekend’s early‑card pick theme.
Top Picks for the Summer Stakes: Al Hudaiba Leads European Trio
With the field set, the consensus picks favor the European trio: 1️⃣ Al Hudaiba, 2️⃣ Sword Salute, and 3️⃣ Big Money Man. Their current odds (2‑1, 8‑1, and 4‑1 respectively) reflect both their performance credentials and the limited North American competition.
- Big Money Man (PJ McDonald, Chris Head), 4‑1
- Let Em Know (Edgard Zayas, Whit Beckman), 20‑1
- Oscar (Kendrick Carmouche, Miguel Clement), 6‑1
- Bounce Back (Romeo Maragh, Mark Casse), 15‑1
- Play It Again (Rafael Hernandez, Mark Casse), 20‑1
- Nicki Knows Best (Sahin Civaci, Mark Casse), 20‑1
- Quipster (Pietro Moran, Kevin Attard), 15‑1
- Sword Salute (Jamie Spencer, Charlie Johnston), 8‑1
- Al Hudaiba (William Buick, Charlie Appleby), 2‑1
- Voyager (Javier Castellano, Mark Casse), 10‑1
- Speaker’s Speech (John Velazquez, Mark Casse), 12‑1
- Induction (Junior Alvarado, Graham Motion), 20‑1
