King Edward BC Stakes – (Gll)

Purse $200.00 – For Three Year Olds And Upward – One Mile – Turf
Woodbine – August 15, 2026

Experienced colts and geldings will line up going one mile on the grass this Saturday in the King Edward BC Stakes at Woodbine as part of the King’s Plate undercard. Colts and geldings… well, with one notable exception. The red-hot six-year-old mare, Fun Dip, decided to crash the party and take on the boys in the 21st edition of this race. Beginning in 2021, this stakes was moved later on the calendar, shifting from late June/early July to now in August. The move has allowed the King Edward BC Stakes to serve as a key stepping stone toward the Grade One WO Mile. Owners Thinken Stables and Riggins Racing have enjoyed the most success in this race over the years, with two wins apiece. However, Mb Stables and Nakamura Stables will both have a chance to join those two at the top with entries in this year’s running. The stakes record was set back in 2010 when Trading Punches made every pole a winning one, stopping the clock in 1:32.00 for the mile. Let’s take a deep dive into each contender to see if any stand out!

1. Kidding – (High Voltage, L. Saez) This eight-year-old gelding has over fifty starts in his career and continues to run against the top competition on the grass. Kidding is a two-time graded stakes winner, with one of those wins coming in The Fort Marcy a few months ago in May. Since then, he made an appearance in the Arlington Stakes at Churchill Downs as the heavy favorite. The son of Canading ran an even fourth in a five-horse field going 1 1/16 miles. Connections tried going back to a distance Kidding likes and entered in the Texas Turf. He was stalking a few lengths off the pace and just didn’t have enough closing kick in the stretch to make an impact on the leaders. Will need to show more.

2. King Z – (Mb Stables, A. Fresu) Claimed for $16.00 back in November 2023, this New York-bred has since blossomed into a Grade One winner with five additional graded victories to his name. King Z has put together a great career at the marathon turf distances, but now cut backs to one mile for this race. He won the Elkhorn at Churchill Downs back in April and hasn’t really done anything since. This gelding’s last three starts consist of a fifth, sixth, and ninth place effort. King Z likes to challenge for the early pace, though he has trouble finishing down the stretch. I would assume Mb will be experimenting with new instructions for this race. He definitely is capable of bouncing back.

3. Train Station Day – (Invicta Group Llc, D. Moran) A very speedy sort who will most likely be the early pacesetter in this field. The son of Worst Case Scenario has three victories since changing barns last year, all coming in wire-to-wire fashion. He put together an impressive two-race win streak a few starts back in an N2X and the Patterson Sakes at Turf Paradise. That prompted connections to take a shot against California-breds in the Crystal Water Stakes. Train Station Day contested the pace early as the favorite, but yielded inside the final furlong to finish fourth. He comes out of an open allowance at Woodbine where he once again dictated things upfront and got outclosed inside the final 1/16. Can he wire the field?

4. Suspect The Worst – (Nakamura Stables, L. Contreras) Looking to give Nakamura Stables a second victory in this race and move the stable into a tie atop the owner leaderboard. Suspect The Worst is a tricky horse to read on paper with some good efforts and some bad ones. His last visit to the winner’s circle came a few months ago in March against open allowance company. Since then, connections have been running in stakes races with little success. The son of Majestical closed into third from last in the Opening Verse against a salty field three races back. His last two starts have both resulted in seventh-place finishes—not making any impact on the leaders in the stretch. A much-improved effort will be needed.

5. Daylight Ride – (Martyparty, V. Espinoza) Bought privately at the beginning of the year from Mountain View Stable for $30.00 after clearing the N1X condition on the dirt. Connections entered Daylight Ride in another sprint on the main track after the acquisition in an open allowance and finished an even third. This Kentucky-bred then tried going two turns in the Grade Three Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park, drawn the widest in a field of nine. He was well within striking distance throughout the race, but failed to make up ground down the stretch. Last time out, Martyparty changed things up and entered Daylight Ride on the grass. He closed from eighth to finish third while going very wide. This is going to be my top pick.

6. Cahokia – (Whitewater Stables, Su. Singh) This is a very interesting six-year-old who only broke his maiden three starts back. Connections bred this son of Kilmanjaro and didn’t see a lot of promising efforts throughout 2022-2023, running in Maiden Special Weights. Cahokia then had a nine-month layoff and came back to break his maiden as a first-time gelding in April 2024 routing on the grass at Tampa Bay Downs. This is where things get weird. We didn’t see him after that victory for over two years when he came back in an N3X a few months ago in July. Cahokia got second in that race and he comes off a win last time out in a state-bred allowance sprinting on the turf. So, it’s safe to say he didn’t miss a beat. I forgot to mention his last workout was clocked in 1:08.98 going six furlongs on the grass!!! This one is a bit of a mystery.

7. Thats It N Thats All – (TwinTowersRacing, E J. Wilson) Seems to be a work-in-progress type of colt with many distance and equipment changes throughout his last few starts. Thats It N Thats All only has two starts this year after spending 2025 poking around in routes and sprints. He ran against open allowance company back in February as a huge longshot in a six-horse field. This California-bred trailed the field in last and could only close into fourth place down the stretch. Last time out, he entered in an N3X at Gulfstream Park going five furlongs on the grass. Thats It N Thats All was in striking distance but lost ground down the stretch. I think a lot will have to go this colt’s way to turn the tables in here.

8. Fun Dip – (Jokerjoes, R M. Hernandez) Here’s the six-year-old mare hoping to flip the script against the boys. Fun Dip was just a $5.00 auction purchase back in June of 2023 and has ten wins since. She has won the Royal North Stakes at Woodbine a record three years straight. The daughter of Roger Rabbit has also never finished off the board in six career races on this turf course. Her last three starts have been very impressive, winning them all in convincing fashion. She beat up some nice fillies and mares in open allowances three and two starts back before taking on graded company. Last time out, Fun Dip made light work of a G3 field as the heavy favorite. This mare is hitting on all cylinders right now. It would be fun to see her win

– AJM

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES