How to bet the 2026 Natalma Stakes

A fascinating field of two-year-old fillies will jaunt one mile on the Woodbine grass in Saturday’s $500,000 Natalma (G1). In addition to the winners’ share of the healthy purse, the first-place finisher will also earn an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Keeneland next month. 

Natalma Wagers

• $20 win #7 Embouteillage ($20)
• $2 exacta key box 7 with 3,6,8 ($12)
• 40-cent trifecta 7 with 3,6,8 with all ($10.80)

Of the 11 sharp prospects set for this exciting affair, I was most impressed by the debut win posted by #7 Embouteillage (5-1) for conditioner Graham Motion. The Kingman filly was unveiled at Saratoga on Aug. 5 in a 5 1/2-furlong dash on the green and looked like a winner every step of the way to me despite her generous 15-1 odds, as she was close to a decent early tempo prior to powering home full of energy late. She is bred to run at least this long, and the youngster looks like a horse who will appreciate more distance going forward. The March foal retains the services of John Velazquez. 

#6 Lamirada (5-2) is a bit of a wildcard in her second lifetime run and first on the green, but the Josie Carroll trainee sure looked good in dominating foes on the synthetic by 11 widening lengths in her first appearance. By Army Mule, the homebred was never headed in the maiden run and has worked well in the interim, led by a bullet half-mile drill most recently. It’s difficult to omit the April foal with Fraser Aebly in the silks. 

Whit Beckman’s #8 Runaway Bride (8-1) started slow but finished fast in a debut win sprinting on the Saratoga turf and comes in as a logical contender in her route debut. The $150,000 daughter of Charlatan was visually very good in her unveiling and has posted four well-timed morning spins in the interim for a trainer who is better with experienced runners. Edgard Zayas picks up what could be a live mount atop the late runner. 

Conditioner Mark Casse has five of the 11 in the field, and of his quintet, I favor #3 Nicki Knows Best (20-1) to some extent. By Mendelssohn, the dark bay filly broke well, surrendered the lead, and then rallied late to post a professional score going long on the all-weather strip on debut. The Ontario-bred should handle the move to the grass in this spot, and I feel that she will be of good value for the vertical exotics with Rafael Hernandez picking up the ride.