Embouteillage looks for clear sailing, Runaway Bride rolls into Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma
.jpg)
TORONTO, September 9, 2026 – First-time winners Embouteillage and Runaway Bride chase Grade 1 glory in the Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes (G1T) on Saturday at Woodbine.
The one-mile turf race, which carries a $500,000 purse (plus up to $100,000 for eligible Ontario-breds), is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, a Grade 1 race over the same distance to be contested at Keeneland on Oct. 30.
A 2-year-old daughter of Kingman (GB) out of the English Channel mare Mitchell Road, Embouteillage steps into the stakes spotlight for her second career start following an impressive debut victory on Aug. 5 at Saratoga.
Sent off at 15-1 in the 5 ½-furlong turf sprint over firm going, Embouteillage (“traffic jam” in French) rallied to notch a 1 ¼-length victory in 1:02.78 in a maiden special weight event.
“We liked her going into it,” said Motion, who won the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with Sharing. “I think when it comes to 2-year-olds, you are always a little surprised when they win the first time, but we did think very highly of her when she ran that day.
“She was doing everything well ahead of the race, and that’s what gave us confidence she had the ability to run well.”
Motion, a lifetime winner of nearly 2,900 races, including 502 stakes, 212 of them graded, is hoping for another strong effort on Saturday.
“I worry that they [2-year-olds] might be a little aggressive early on going a one-turn mile, so that is always a concern. But she is doing well, and hopefully, that translates into a big race this weekend.”
Bred and owned by Wertheimer et Frère, Embouteillage breezed four furlongs in :49.80 at Fair Hill on Aug. 27 and followed it up with a five-furlong move in 1:03.00 there on Sept. 6.
“She’s very well put together,” said Motion. “She’s not a big filly, but a very well put-together filly with a nice demeanor and a nice attitude. That said, she’s been a little wound up since her first race. I worked her on her own on Sunday because I thought she’d try to do too much in company. The Tapeta at Fair Hill is a little slow, so I wouldn’t be too guided by the time.”
Other starters include Runaway Bride.
Owned by Icon Racing Stable, a horse racing syndicate founded by former MLB star Jayson Werth and his friend Ken Kuykendall, Runaway Bride heads into the Summer off a debut victory at Saratoga on July 24.
The daughter of Charlatan out of the Bayern mare American Model was off a step slowly in the 5 ½-furlong turf sprint but rallied impressively to post a three-quarter-length victory at 13-1.
“We didn't have a real great sense of who and what she was until she ran that race," said Werth. "When she turned for home and got out in the middle, [Tyler] Gaffalione was on her, she found some traffic and then had to re-rally. That's when you got to see her talent, her strides, and her closing speed.”
Trained by Whitworth Beckman, the chestnut filly was bred in Kentucky by Breeze Easy, LLC.
Runaway Bride was purchased for $150,000 at this year’s OBS April Sale.
“We're fired up,” said Werth. “Got a few people coming in. First time I'll be at Woodbine, and I'm going to go see my buddy Max [Toronto Blue Jays pitcher, Scherzer] pitch Friday night, and then check out Woodbine on Saturday.”
Fast facts: Mark Casse has a record eight Natalma scores, including three consecutive wins (2014-16). The late Todd Kabel rode a record five winners. The race is named in honour of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame mare and dam of Northern Dancer.
Wagering menu for the Natalma: Includes Rolling Double / Exacta / 0.20 Trifecta / 0.20 Superfecta / 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 5-6-7) / 0.20 / Mandatory Jackpot Hi5 / $1 Swinger
Field for the Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Mo Cookie – Kendrick Carmouche – Mike De Paulo
2 – De la Renta – Umberto Rispoli – Kevin Attard
3 – Nicki Knows Best – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
4 – Voyager – Javier Castellano – Mark Casse
5 – Bounce Back – Junior Alvarado – Mark Casse
6 – Lamirada – Fraser Aebly – Josie Carroll
7 – Embouteillage – John Velazquez – Graham Motion
8 – Runaway Bride – Edgard Zayas – Whitworth Beckman
9 – Ez Miss Sassy – Romero Ramsamy Maragh – Mark Casse
10 – Cattrall – Pietro Moran – Kevin Attard
11 – Royal Foxtrot – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse
-30-
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
