Godolphin tallied a second Grade 1 win at Woodbine Saturday when Modern Game stormed down the stretch and annexed the $1-million Ricoh Woodbine Mile by about five lengths.
Two races earlier on the card, the connections, including trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick, captured the Pattison Summer Stakes (G1) with Mysterious Night.
In the Woodbine Mile, Modern Games rated along the rail near the back of the field early before Buick brought him between horses to rally nearing the stretch. With clear running room on the outside, the son of Dubawi drew off down the lane for his sixth win from 11 career starts.
Ivar was second, and Finest Sound was third
Modern Games covered the distance in 1.32.77 on turf rated as firm and returned $3.50. With the victory, he earned an automatic, fees-paid berth to the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland as the Woodbine Mile is part off the Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win and You're In” series.
Modern Games, who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) last year, posted his first win since capturing the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) (G1) May 15 at Longchamp. Subsequently third in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) (G1), he finished fifth as the favorite in the Prix Jean Prat (G1) at Chantilly on July 10, then was second on short rest July 27 last time out in the Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood behind the unbeaten Baaeed, widely considered to be the world's best grass runner.
An Irish-bred out of the New Approach mare Modern Ideals, Modern Games is the first 3-year-old to win the Woodbine Mile.
The post Modern Games Takes Woodbine Mile As Godolphin Strikes For Second Grade 1 Win On Card, Earns Breeders’ Cup Berth appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
