Notable Speech Shows His Class in Winning Woodbine Mile

In a display of sheer determination, a trait that earned him the 2025 Eclipse Award for champion turf male, Notable Speech (GB) returned to Woodbine Sept. 12 and won the Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T) for a second consecutive year. The Godolphin homebred, a 5-year-old son of Dubawi (IRE), won last year's race on Woodbine's inner turf course while the E.P. Taylor course that he ran on Saturday was under renovation. Ridden by William Buick, the Charles Appleby-trained Notable Speech was a 1 1/4-length winner over Deterministic who was riding a six-race win streak, including four grade 1s, heading into the race, and lost no respect in defeat as the pacesetter under Kendrick Carmouche. Notable Speech raced behind and in between horses for much of the 1-mile race, but was never far off the pace that Deterministic set with fractions of :24.36, :47.89, 1:10.73, and 1:21.89. The winner's final time over the firm course was 1:33.86. With 3 furlongs remaining, Notable Speech's chances of winning were in doubt as he was without running room, but turning for home Buick found a seam that the horse eagerly seized while receiving encouragement from the rider's crop and he sailed to victory. Alex Merriam, Appleby's assistant said, "He's a tough horse. (Buick) knows him well. I think (Deterministic) had it fairly easy in front. Once (Buick) got him out, he has such a turn of foot." The winner returned $3.40 as the 3-5 favorite. Finishing third 2 1/4 lengths behind second choice Deterministic was Gas Me Up who was followed under the wire by Itsastormymonday, Pierre, and Silius (IRE). After winning last year's Woodbine Mile, Notable Speech followed up with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Del Mar. Notable Speech will likely look to repeat in this year's running at Keeneland Oct. 31. The $739,614 Woodbine Mile is a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, giving Notable Speech an automatic, fees-paid berth to defend his title in the Breeders' Cup Mile. The Woodbine Mile was the 10th career win from 19 starts for Notable Speech who has earnings of $4,428,249 Grade 3 Stakes Action On a card heavy on grade 1 races, a pair of grade 3s, the Vigil Stakes and Matron Stakes, played supporting roles. The Vigil Stakes was won by Richard H. Bosshard Jr.'s Heavy Pour, who was ridden to victory in the 7-furlong race on the all-weather surface by Gaddiel Martinez for trainer Tim Girten. The Matron was won by Mark Dodson's Lupa (IRE). Trained by Josie Carroll, the winner was ridden by Fraser Aebly in the 1 1/16-mile race on the all-weather track.