Horse Racing Picks for Sat. Sept. 12, 2026 @ Woodbine
Horse racing picks and best bets for Sat., Sept. 12th, 2026, at Woodbine from Turtle Sports’ Lundin Line. Get expert analysis, free tips, and stakes-race insights to help you cash in on today’s card.
HORSE RACING
- Fink
The NFL kicks off this week, and college football features its first slate of marquee matchups. But the biggest action may be north of the border, where the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series heads to Canada.
It’s Turf Championship Day at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, and our Lundin Line top-rated selections are saddled up and ready to help get you in the money.
Last week was one of our toughest days at the track, with just one top-pick winner across Saratoga and Kentucky Downs. We have never quite been able to figure out the unique challenges of Kentucky Downs, so you won’t see much coverage from us there moving forward. However, we do like fading horses that run at Kentucky Downs in their next race at a different track, so keep an eye out for that angle in our upcoming write-ups.
Today’s card features 12 races, including six stakes events and four Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races. The schedule is perfectly structured, with all six stakes races running consecutively from Race 5 through Race 10, meaning there won’t be much waiting between the day’s biggest events.
The first Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race is the Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes, with the winner earning a spot in the John Deere Juvenile Fillies Turf. This Grade 1 turf route is contested at one mile and carries a $500,000 purse. The race is restricted to two-year-old fillies, so we won’t see any past runners here. Still, it’s worth keeping this race in mind next year as the Kentucky Oaks trail begins. You never know when one of these connections might move a promising filly to the dirt for a shot at the lilies.
We won’t have to wait long for the next Breeders’ Cup race. The seventh race is another Grade 1 turf event for two-year-olds, carrying a $500,000 purse and awarding the winner a spot in the Brown Advisory Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on the final Friday in October.
We initially had 12 starters, but four scratches have reduced the field to eight. Both of our cappers viewed the race similarly and selected the same top horse, which made it an easy choice for a best bet. Our Lundin Line top-rated selection is different, but our handicappers see something special in the No. 9 horse.
Next up in the Breeders’ Cup series is our featured race of the day, the Woodbine Mile. This Grade 1 turf route carries a $1 million purse and awards the winner a spot in the FanDuel Mile at Del Mar on Halloween.
The race is open to three-year-olds and older horses, but all eyes will be on the battle between five-year-olds Deterministic and Noble Speech. These two horses have dominated turf racing in the United States over the past few years but have avoided one another throughout their careers.
If they perform as expected, this matchup could feel like Sovereignty and Journalism battling on the dirt over the past two years. Big races attract big names, and we could be watching the winner of a major Breeders’ Cup race face off today.
Last but not least is the E.P. Taylor Stakes. Like the Woodbine Mile, it is a Grade 1 turf route, but it is contested at 1 1/4 miles, is open to fillies and mares three years old and up, and carries a $750,000 purse.
The ladies started our Breeders’ Cup journey today, and they will close it out as they compete for a spot in the Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar on Halloween.
The weather for today’s card looks exceptional, with temperatures in the mid-70s and mostly sunny skies. That should produce a fast main track and firm turf for this huge day at Woodbine.
We know that’s a lot to get through, but we’re excited about this day of racing and had to share it all with you. We have even more coverage available, with another Breeders’ Cup race from Gulfstream Park and analysis of the late Pick 3 coming over on X.
Happy Turf Champions & National Chocolate Milkshake Day!
Need help picking winners? We've got you covered! Our (Always Free) Lundin Line's top picks and best bets are below. We use them to help narrow the field while putting our tickets together. The first post will be here soon, so don't be late -
It's time to get #InTheMoney! 💰💰💰
🏇Sat., Sept. 12th, 2026 @ Woodbine
First Post @ 1:04 ETD (10:04 PDT)
⭑Best Bet(s)
R5: 500K Johnnie Walker Natalma S. (G1T)/BC
1 Mile on Turf for 2 Yr. Old Fillies
BC Div.: Juvenile Fillies Turf
R6: 175K Branded Cities Vigil S. (G3)
7 Furlongs on All-Weather for 3 Yr. Olds & Up
R7: 500K bet365 Summer S. (G1T)/BC
1 Mile on Turf for 2 Yr. Olds
BC Div.: Juvenile Turf
R8: 175K HPIbet Ontario Matron S. (G3)
1 1/16 Miles on All-Weat. For Fillies/Mares, 3 Yr. Olds & Up
R9: 1 Mi. Woodbine Mile (G1T)/BC
1 Mile on Turf for 3 Yr. Olds & Up
BC Div.: Fan Duel Mile
R10: 750K E.P. Taylor S. (G1T)/BC
1 1/4 Miles on Turf for Filiies/Mares, 3 Yr. Olds & Up
BC Div.: Fillies & Mares Turf
Ⓢtakes Race(s)
R1: 4-6-3
R2: 3-1-7-4
R3: 6-4-1
R4: 8-1-2-6
R5Ⓢ/BC:
LL: 6-10-11-5
Fink: 4-7-2-8
Mr W: 11-10-6-5
R6Ⓢ: 1-4-7-5
R7Ⓢ/BC:
LL: 4-6-10-7
Fink: 9⭑1-8-2
Mr. W: 9⭑-4-6-10
R8Ⓢ: 1-3-5-7
🏇R9Ⓢ/BC:
LL: 3-1-5-7
Fink: 1-3-4-2
Mr. W: 3-1-6-5
R10Ⓢ/BC:
LL: 4-8-1-2
Fink: 8⭑-4-3-1
Mr. W: 8⭑-4-1-2
R11: 4-7-2
R12: 7-9-5-6
🏇= Featured Race(s)
R7: Al Hudaiba (GB) (#9)
R10: See The Fire (GB) (#8)
