Natalma Stakes – (Grade l) [BC]

Purse $500.00 – For Fillies Two Years Old

One Mile – Turf

Woodbine – September 12, 2026

Yosemite Fear dictated the pace every step of the way as she captured the 21st running of the Grade One Natalma Stakes in wire-to-wire fashion! She will now head to Keeneland with a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The daughter of Face Your Fears entered this race with two victories to her name and now added a third on the biggest stage of her career, boosting her lifetime earnings to $409.80. The final time for the one-turn mile was 1:33.73, just slightly slower than the time recorded in last year’s edition. Owner Mb Stables continued his incredible run of success in the Natalma Stakes, collecting a fifth victory from the past six years! His sustained excellence in this race has become nothing short of remarkable. Yosemite Fear figures to be an extremely tough contender in the Breeders Cup next month, especially with her conformation suggesting that she will only improve as she stretches out. This Kentucky-bred’s recent turf workouts have also been exceptionally sharp and give every indication that another major performance could be waiting at Keeneland. A big congratulations to Mb Stables on yet another Grade One victory!

Winner: Yosemite Fear – (Mb Stables, R. Santana Jr.) This filly broke cleanly from post four and wasted little time moving to the front, taking command before the field reached the 7/8 pole. Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. let her settle into a comfortable rhythm from there as she opened up two lengths while posting an opening quarter of 23.45. Yosemite Fear continued to travel smoothly down the backstretch and maintained her advantage through the half in 46.91. The field began to inch closer around the turn, but she remained in control after six furlongs in 1:10.31. All Your Sisters produced the strongest late bid once they straightened for home, yet Yosemite Fear responded when asked and scored by one length in the end. Well done!

Second Place: All Your Sisters – (Mo Mentum Farm, B. Curtis) All Your Sisters came away in midpack and settled into fourth as Yosemite Fear opened up on the lead. The daughter of Cherokee Sunset stayed on the outside of Go Woke Go Broke and Gamayun through the opening half-mile before beginning to advance near the three-eighths pole. Jockey Ben Curtis guided her more to the outside around the turn, forcing this filly to cover some extra ground as she launched her bid. All Your Sisters took over second near the eighth pole with a clear running lane and continued to cut into the winner’s advantage, but Yosemite Fear had too much left and remained safely in front. Even in defeat, this was an encouraging performance in her first start on the grass.

Third Place: Silver Champ – (La Canada Racehorses, S X. Bridgmohan) Homebred for La Canada Racehorses broke with the field from post seven but was allowed to settle, dropping to the rear during the opening furlong six lengths back. She remained last through most of the backstretch as the leaders posted a quarter in 23.45 and a half in 46.91. The daughter of Silver Deputy began to advance near the three-eighths pole before following All Your Sisters into the clear on the far outside around the turn. She was still sixth entering the stretch but continued to find her best stride as the wire approached. Silver Champ closed past several rivals late and caught Grand And Lucky in the final strides to secure third by two lengths in the end. Very solid effort coming off a maiden claiming victory.

Fourth Place: Grand And Lucky – (Greyhound, J R. Velazquez) This New York-bred came away from the gate in good order and settled into fifth, racing four lengths behind Yosemite Fear. Grand And Lucky remained covered up behind All Your Sisters and Gamayun through the backstretch while getting into a comfortable rhythm down on the rail. She saved ground around the far turn and eventually found a clear running lane once the field straightened for home. This Greyhound filly began to pick off rivals inside the final furlong and briefly moved into third as she chased the eventual winner. Silver Champ produced one final surge on the outside to catch her in the closing strides, leaving Grand And Lucky to finish fourth. Not a bad performance.

– AJM

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES