Eclipse Stakes – (Grade ll)

Purse $175.00 – For Four Year Olds And Upward

1 1/16 Miles – Dirt

Woodbine Racetrack – May 30, 2026

As racing in Canada is starting to get into full swing, Woodbine Racetrack will feature the 20th running of the Eclipse Stakes this Saturday. It is the first two-turn stakes of the meet for open company and highlights seasoned older horses. Last year’s winner, Schopenhauer, is back to defend his title after capturing this race a year ago. He set the stakes record in his two-length victory, crossing the wire in an impressive 1:40.67. The Eclipse Stakes has consistently gotten quicker over the years, as every edition since 2019 has produced a faster final time than the year before. No stable has enjoyed more success in the Eclipse Stakes than Night Rider Stables, who found the winner’s circle in 2017 and again in 2019. However, Maxmillion Farm can be even atop the owner standings with another victory this year. With turf horses, allowance winners, and graded stakes winners entered this year, it will be a hard task to separate these runners. Let’s take a closer look at each competitor!

1. Among Wolves – (Fabone1, S. Civaci) An ultra-consistent runner who has been off the board once in nine career starts. This Texas-bred made his way through his allowance conditions with ease, winning one sprinting and routing. Connections made the jump into the Hooper Stakes, where Among Wolves just missed by a nose against state breds. He went back to two turns last time out in the Star of TX Stakes and settled three lengths back in fifth place. Among Wolves was the morning line favorite and once again just missed at the wire to get second by a neck. It’s no question he’s been a bit camera-shy as of late, but this jump into open company makes sense.

2. Stumble – (Mb Stables, P. Moran) It doesn’t matter if it’s dirt, turf, long, or short, this son of Rumble has done it all. Five of his six wins have come on the dirt, and three of those were routing. It was clear that Stumble was doing his best running going long and Mb Stables has caught on to that. His last two starts were against graded stakes company, both resulting in fourth-place finishes. This New York-bred’s last race was in the Grade Two Alysheba at Churchill Downs, and he put together a career-high 101 speed figure. He faced an extremely tough field that day and now runs into a somewhat softer group. This runner could be sitting on a big effort with his strong closing kick.

3. Speter – (Sheffler Stables, L. Salles) Sheffler Stables bought this Ontario-bred for $125.00 back in late 2024 and is still searching for his first win since switching barns. Speter is the most experienced horse entered this year with 49 career starts. He has a couple of second-place finishes with his new connections since adding Bute. The Fayette Stakes was his best recent performance last October, putting together a 101 speed figure. Other than that effort, Speter’s form has been spotty with good and bad races. It’s going to be hard to count on this gelding since he’s failed as the favorite five times out of his last six races. There appear to be more reliable options in the field.

4. Edged Out – (TwinTowersRacing, R M. Hernandez) This colt had a very busy three-year-old season running in eight graded stakes on both surfaces. He was a habitual deep closer on the dirt, so connections decided to give him a try on the turf last September. It proved to be a good experiment as Edged Out took the The Hill Prince Stakes at Aqueduct a couple of months later. Now as a four-year-old, he has made three starts on the grass and hasn’t made much of an impact in those races. So, it makes sense that TwinTowersRacing switches surfaces again. There’s not a lot of speed in this year’s field, which might be a problem for Edged Out. He’ll need a perfect setup to win.

5. Schopenhauer – (Maxmillion Farm, D. Moran) Last year’s winner of this race and looks to still be in good form. This son of Spiral Out Keepgoing won another graded stakes after this one twelve months ago and ended his six-year-old campaign in the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile. He ended up finishing twelfth in an extremely salty field. This year, Schopenhauer cleared his third allowance condition, prevailing by a head at Fair Grounds. Connections tried to parlay that effort in the Ghostzapper Stakes and put this gelding on the lead. He had a one-length lead, trying to take the field wire-to-wire, and yielded late to save fourth. Looking at prior wins, he will need to stay close to the pace to be victorious.

6. Tuff Gong – (Winning Link Stables, E J. Wilson) There were big changes for this California-bred in April last year, as connections gelded him, removed Bute, and added Lasix. It proved to be a huge success as Tuff Gong put together back-to-back one-length victories against allowance company. One of those performances translated into a track record at Albuquerque Downs, running the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.10. Things were going good until this gelding started running against stakes horses. He has three starts this year and has failed to hit the board one time. It’s clear that Tuff Gong will do his best running against softer company. Other contenders make a stronger case here.

7. Derby Dreams – (TwinTowersRacing, D. Nelson) Comes into this race off a fourth-place effort in the Grade Three Ali at Churchill Downs. He was within striking distance at the top of the stretch, but didn’t have enough to make an impact on the leaders late. Before that start, Derby Dreams made several turf appearances, including four grade ones. The Hirsch Turf Classic was an impressive race, drawing away in the stretch to win by an easy two lengths. That performance ended up being a career best, with a 103 speed figure. This five-year-old has several other dirt starts in his career, most notably taking down the TX Derby in May 2024. Several look more dangerous entering this race.

8. Burger King – (Serenity Stables, L. Contreras) Was bought privately for $85.00 just two months ago. Serenity Stables made some changes to this gelding after two disappointing outings. Both Lasix and Bute were removed for Burger King’s last start, and it resulted in a wire-to-wire victory. He held a one-length advantage all the way around the racetrack and just held on at the wire by a neck. This son of Acapulco Bay’s best performance before that was in the Grade One Goodwood Stakes, running second to Charlie Jace. He looks to run his best while being close to the pace early on. Burger King seems to be on the improve since switching barns and will be my live longshot in here.

9. Berlin – (The Sidley Stud, P. Husbands) This eight-year-old is not only a multiple graded stakes winner, but he has won over $4,121.62 in purse money. Berlin couldn’t hold on last time out in the PIM Special after having a one-length lead entering the stretch. It was obviously a heartbreaking loss, but he still put up a 101 speed figure. He has visited the winner’s circle just once this season, with that victory coming in the KY Cup Classic at Turfway Park. He was sent directly to the front and never faced much pressure while leading from gate to wire. It’s another unfortunate draw for this speedster, as he draws the outside post in back-to-back starts. No doubt my top pick.

– AJM

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES