Saturday’s Rogers Woodbine Mile is a Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence “Win and You’re In” race for the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Introduced by PDJF, providing the winner a fees-paid berth to the Nov. 2 race on the second day of the World Championships at Del Mar.
The $1 million Woodbine Mile yearly attracts a number of the finest middle-distance turf horses in North America in addition to just a few worldwide invaders and the final two winners, Fashionable Video games in 2022 and Grasp of The Seas in 2023, went on to prevail within the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
The Woodbine Mile anchors Woodbine’s stakes-rich Saturday card and can be showcased on FanDuel TV. For livestream protection of an enormous horse racing day north of the border, America’s Greatest Racing will produce “Turf Champions Day LIVE!” on-site from Woodbine Saturday, overlaying three Breeders’ Cup prep races amongst 4 Grade 1 stakes. The present has a tentative begin time of three:30 p.m. ET and can be hosted by ABR’s Dan Tordjman together with horseplayers J.D. Fox and Alexa Zepp. It airs on ABR’s Fb, X, and YouTube channels.
Study extra concerning the race with these enjoyable details.
What’s in a reputation. The Woodbine Mile had three identify adjustments earlier than it was referred to as the Woodbine Mile Stakes in 1997 and 1998. It then held a distinct identify – the Atto Mile – from 1999 by means of 2005, and returned to the Woodbine Mile Stakes in 2006. From 2011 to 2023, it was referred to as the Ricoh Woodbine Mile. In 2024, the race can be run with a brand new presenting sponsor because the Rogers Woodbine Mile.
It is an occasion. The Woodbine Mile headlines Turf Champions Day on the monitor, a day of elite turf racing, type, eating, and extra. The Turf Champions card additionally options the $500,000 bet365 Summer time Stakes, a “Win and You’re In” race for the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf; the $500,000 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes, a qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf; and the $750,000 E. P. Taylor Stakes at 1 ¼ miles for fillies and mares. It’s Canadian racing at its finest!
Again to 1988. The Woodbine Mile was first contested in 1988 because the Molson Export Problem, held at 1 ¼ miles on the grime. From 1991 to 1996, the race was held on grime at 1 1/8 miles, and altered to a mile race on turf in 1997 – the identical floor and distance as it’s at present.
Neil Drysdale. Racing Corridor of Fame member Neil Drysdale holds the title for many wins by a coach, having received three editions of the Woodbine Mile and as soon as when the race was held because the Molson Export Problem at a mile and 1 / 4 (Charles LoPresti received three consecutive editions of the Woodbine Mile from 2011 to 2013 and Corridor of Famer Bobby Frankel educated the winner in 2000, 2005, and 2009). Drysdale holds a singular worldwide background: He was born in England, studied in Spain, and labored within the Thoroughbred industries of Argentina and Venezuela, all earlier than working as an assistant to coach Charlie Whittingham within the U.S. Drysdale’s 4 winners of the Woodbine Mile mirror his worldwide experiences: U.S.-bred Prized in 1989; English-bred Labeeb in 1998; French-bred Contact of the Blues (2003); and Becrux (2006) who was bred in Italy.
Worldwide illustration. In whole, the Woodbine Mile has been received by horses bred in seven completely different international locations: U.S., Canada, Brazil, France, Eire, England, and Italy. Brazilian-bred Leroidesanimaux holds the best successful margin of seven ¾ lengths in 2005. He’s the sire of 2011 Kentucky Derby winner, Animal Kingdom.
Most races by an proprietor. Sam-Son Farm holds essentially the most Woodbine Mile victories as an proprietor with 4: Dance Well (1991), Quiet Resolve (1999), Hovering Free (2004), and El Tormenta (2019). Dance Well went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in 1991, and Quiet Resolve was second within the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Turf. Sam-Son Farm, an Ontario-based operation with a base in Ocala, Fla., has received 12 Sovereign Awards (5 for founder Ernie Samuel and seven for Sam-Son Farm) and one Eclipse Award for excellent proprietor. In 2021, Sam-Son was honored with a Particular Soverign Award celebrating its 50 years within the Thoroughbred racing and breeding trade.
Consecutive winners. Corridor of Fame racehorse Sensible Dan is the one twin winner of the Woodbine Mile, successful in 2012 and 2013 earlier than occurring to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile each years. The fan-favorite gelding additionally holds the document for the quickest time, 1:31:75, set in 2013. As famous above, his coach, Charlie LoPresti, holds the document for many consecutive wins by a coach, having additionally received the Woodbine Mile in 2011 with Turallure.
Winningest jockey. Sensible Dan was piloted in each his Woodbine Mile victories by jockey John Velazquez, who holds essentially the most wins by a rider. His different successful mounts have been Riviera (2000), Leroidesanimaux (2005), and World Approval (2017). He additionally occurs to be a three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby. Velazquez, who was inducted into the Racing Corridor of Fame in 2012, is scheduled to journey Playmea Tune within the 2024 Woodbine Mile.
Racemares. 4 feminine racehorses have received the Woodbine Mile. The aforementioned Dance Well was the primary in 1991 (on the time on a distinct floor and distance than the present-day occasion). Ventura, who was bred by Juddmonte Farms within the U.S., started her racing profession in England earlier than returning to North America. Runner-up within the 2008 Woodbine Mile, she was victorious in 2009. Tepin traveled to Royal Ascot in England to win the 2016 Queen Anne Stakes in June and adopted that efficiency by successful the Woodbine Mile in September. In 2020, Starship Jubilee grew to become the fourth feminine winner when she received the Woodbine Mile by a size as a 7-year-old.
Fashionable 3-12 months-Outdated. Because the Woodbine Mile was switched from a dust race restricted to 3-year-olds to a turf race for 3-year-olds and older, no 3-year-old had been in a position to finest elders within the race … till Fashionable Video games shipped in to Woodbine in 2022 and received by 5 1/4 lengths because the odds-on favourite. Fashionable Video games went on to win the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Keeneland and was named the Eclipse Award winner as champion turf male for 2022. My Boy Prince has an opportunity to duplicate the feat as a 3-year-old Woodbine Mile winner, getting into the race off of a runner-up end within the 2024 King’s Plate.
