Woodbine Preview: Champion Fev Rover Returns in Nassau Stakes

The Ireland-bred Fev Rover, Canada’s reigning Horse of the Year, returns to Woodbine on Saturday seeking a repeat victory in the $175,000 Nassau Stakes (G2), one of five graded stakes on the card.

Saturday is Woodbine’s celebration of Canada Day, or Dominion Day for those with longer memories. Technically, the holiday is Monday, July 1, but the track is getting a jump on the festive weekend. There is no better way to start a celebration than to welcome back the nation’s top racehorse.

Fev Rover faces seven rivals in the 1-mile contest going one turn over Woodbine’s renowned turf course. Now 6, Fev Rover had a banner campaign in 2023 that included Grade 1 wins in the Beverly D at Colonial Downs and the E.P. Taylor at Woodbine.

She is 3-1-1 in six races over her home course at Woodbine as she makes her second start this season. Like the Williams sisters, Fev Rover is a fiery competitor. That can be her downfall.

She was wound up prior to her season debut: the New York Stakes (G1), part of the Belmont at Saratoga festival on June 7. The fans pressing close to the saddling area and the accompanying noise keyed her up.

“It blows her mind. She can’t handle that,” Casse said.

Fev Rover threw jockey Javier Castellano off twice on the way to the starting gate before loading and finishing sixth.

Back at Woodbine, Fev Rover should find things far more familiar and comfortable. That spells trouble for the rest of the field.

For those who bet on horse racing …

Oceanic blitzed the competition at Keeneland, rallying to win his season debut with a dynamic effort. Anything close to that effort makes him the one to beat in the six-furlong turf dash, the richest race on the card.

He stumbled at the start of last year’s edition and recovered well enough to finish with a flourish, second by only a half-length.

Casse saddles the Filo Di Arianna, at 8 the oldest runner in the race. He is winless in three tries this season against tougher competition. He is a perfect 3-for-3 over the Woodbine lawn.

For online horse betting aficionados …

The $1 million King’s Plate on Aug. 17, the first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, is the long-range goal for Piper’s Factor.

At 1 1/4 miles, the King’s Plate might be a stretch for Piper’s Factor. However, the 1 1-16-mile Marine should be right in his wheelhouse. The 3-year-old returned from a winter in Florida to whip an allowance field of older rivals right here at the same distance.

He meets a modest field that includes Cameo Performance, in from Kentucky for trainer Brendan Walsh, and Native Land who was overmatched last time out in the Peter Pan (G3) at Aqueduct.

For those who bet online on horse racing.

Stakes days at Woodbine usually bring paydays for Casse and he has a stranglehold on this 1 1/8-mile race over the all-weather surface.

He holds a pair of aces in Paramount Prince, last year’s King’s Plate winner and Palazzi, winner of the Eclipse Stakes (G2) here on June 1.

We’ll give a slight edge to Paramount Prince who was third, only a half-length behind Palazzi in the Eclipse. This race is a half furlong longer and he is 2-for-2 at the distance.

For online horse betting folks …

Casse has won this race for 3-year-old fillies in each of the last six years. He goes for “Lucky 7” with a pair: Witwatersrand, last year’s Canadian Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, and Golden Ghost.

The speedy Sabatini has the rail, and perhaps the best chance to halt the Casse win streak.