The $1-million GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile serves, along with the Queen's Plate, as the centerpiece of the Woodbine meet, and this year's renewal features an 11-horse field that includes last year's winner Town Cruise (Town Prize), who will be looking to bounce back from three off-the-board finishes following his wire-to-wire score in this race last September. The likely favorite, however, will be Godolphin's Modern Games (Dubawi {Ire}), who returns to America for the first time after his controversial purse-money-only win in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, who swept the three Grade I's on this card last year, Modern Games started his 3-year-old campaign off with a score in the G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains before running third in the G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, fifth in the G1 Haras d'Etreham Prix Jean Prat and second when last seen in the G1 Qatar Sussex S. July 27 at Goodwood.

Appleby doesn't have an entry in this year's GI Natalma S. for juvenile turf fillies, but will be represented by last-out G3 Circus Maximus Prix Francois Boutin hero Mysterious Night (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the GI Summer S. Other contenders in that one-mile test for juvenile turf males include Klaravich Stables' Appraise (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) for Chad Brown and Philip My Dear (Silent Name {Jpn}), who overcame stretch traffic to take the local Soaring Free S. Aug. 20.

Stakes action over the flat at 'Belmont at the Big A' will get underway with the GIII Caesars Jockey Club Derby Invitational and GIII Jockey Club Oaks Invitational for 3-year-old turf males and fillies, respectively. The former features a rubber match between Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway), who upset the July 9 GI Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational S. and Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who was second that day and exacted revenge when taking the GI Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational S. Aug. 6 at the Spa. Adding intrigue is progressive German invader Ardakan (GB) (Reliable Man {GB}). Trained by Markus Klug, the gray scored a victory in the G2 Premio Derby Italiano May 22 and was eighth in the G1 German Derby before running third last out with a 111 Timeform Rating against elders in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin Aug. 14 at Hoppegarten.

The Jockey Club Oaks also features a hopeful for Germany, Toskana Belle (Fr) (Shamalgan {Fr}), who ships in for legendary German trainer Andreas Wohler. The chestnut, who captured the G1 German Oaks Aug. 7 at Dusseldorf, looks like the only realistic alternative to Klaravich Stables' McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who annexed the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. July 9 before running second in the G3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. Aug. 7.

Churchill Downs will host five stakes Saturday, including Kentucky's first two graded events for 2-year-olds in the GIII Iroquois S. and GIII Pocahontas S., which are also the first two-turn graded dirt races for juveniles on the calendar in the U.S. The clear horse to beat in the Pocahontas for fillies is Three Chimneys Farm's Grand Love (Gun Runner), who was an impressive 4 3/4-length debut victress Aug. 21 at Saratoga with an 84 Beyer, nine points higher than the closest figure run by any rival.

The Iroquois looks much more competitive on paper, with undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Damon's Mound (Girvin), who followed up a 12 1/2-length debut romp with a 3 1/4-length score in the GII Saratoga Special S., clashing with fellow 'Rising Stars' Jace's Road (Quality Road) and Echo Again (Gun Runner), each of whom steps into stakes company after dominant first-out scores last month. Echo Again ran the fastest Beyer of any 2-year-old this summer at Saratoga, receiving a 94 for his 6 3/4-length rout when bet down to 3-5 Aug. 20.

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Instead, Town Cruise has been showing Greer he's ready for more.

“I breezed him the other day, and tried to keep him as slow as possible,” Greer told DRF. “He was a little up that day. You remember when I won the Mile, I'd said I'd have to ask the horse. I stopped asking because two days later he said: 'Let's go again'. I was hoping he'd tell me: 'No I'm good, let's go home for the season', but he was anything but that.”

The winner of three of his four starts this season, Town Cruise has an overall record of 6-2-1 from 14 starts, with earnings of $789,642.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

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The wagering groups employ computer programs that compare win probabilities with current odds, then dump wagers at the last second on those horses whose odds offer perceived value. Similar wagers take place in exotic pools by these computer players.

The bets can cause wild swings in the odds, especially when one or more of those computer wagering teams (there may be a dozen or more of them currently active) land on the same horse or horses. That can be especially annoying if you've bet on a horse at 9-2 while he's in the gate and who then crosses the finish in front at odds of 9-5. Because these computer assisted groups don't always win, sometimes the odds on a winner have gone up at the last minute.

These groups are betting significant amounts of money, as much as one-third of the total pari-mutuel wagering pools.

Computer players don't need to have a positive return on investment to make a profit – an advantage they have over everyday players because of the rebates they receive from off-shore (and some U.S.-based) advance deposit wagering companies. For example, if an on-track player gets a $950,000 return on $1 million in wagers, he or she loses $50,000. A rebate player getting a $950,000 return on $1 million in wagers will break even after a 5% rebate. Most computer players get a larger rebate  than that, depending on the jurisdiction and wager type. So even if they aren't winning, they are coming out ahead.

One of the most recent examples of how these computer assisted wagering groups affect the odds came in last Saturday's Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile, a race won by Town Cruise, a horse with just one previous stakes appearance in 13 starts but with a big advantage: he was the lone speed.

Town Cruise was 23-1 with just over one minute before the start of the race. When betting closed, he was 8-1 and paid $19.30 for a $2 wager, far short of what many backers thought they would get.

Sanny Lee, senior manager of wagering operations for Woodbine, confirmed that a significant percentage of wagers on the race came in during the final 78 seconds before the start of the Woodbine Mile.

In an email to the Paulick Report in response to a question about the late odds shift of Town Cruise, Lee wrote: “We have reviewed all bets placed in the Win pool for Race 10 (Woodbine Mile) from this past Saturday, and we can confirm that in the final 1 minute and 18 sec of betting, the amount bet in the win pool increased by $128,482.26 making up 20% of the total pool for the race ($607,623.89) and bets were placed by most wagering outlets across the network during this time.

“When looking at the odds progression, we see that at 1 min and 18 sec before the race start, horse #1 (Town Cruise) was 23-1, horse #2 (Olympic Runner) was at 16-1, horse #8 (Avie's Flatter) was 31-1 and the favourite #5 (Set Piece) was 6-5. At the start of the race, the final odds changed on these 4 horses to #1 at 8-1, #2 at 9-1, #8 at 17-1 and the favourite #5 increased in odds to 8-5. It appears that compared to prior betting patterns, a relatively significant amount of bets were placed on these 3 horses compared to the other horses, just before the race started.”

The Paulick Report also asked Lee if Woodbine accepted wagers from computer-assisted wagering groups and whether they were responsible for the late odds changes in the Woodbine Mile.

“We can also confirm that we do allow CAW outlets to wager into our pools, and that about half of the $128,482.26 was wagered by CAW in the final 1 min and 18 sec of betting,” Lee wrote.

The New York Racing Association in August said it was restricting computer wagering groups' access to the win pools by cutting them off at three minutes to post. That has reduced big odds swings at the last minute. No other racing associations have announced similar moves.

Lee added that the Paulick Report inquiry and the Woodbine response would be forwarded to the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency for review.

Not all late odds changes are the result of computer-assisted wagering groups.

During the summer meet at Del Mar, there were a number of significant late odds changes presumably driven by the computer assisted wagering groups. But in the final race of the meet, there was a curious change in the odds that didn't make a lot of sense.

Algeria, the No. 4 horse was favored at around 2-1 for much of the wagering, then plunged to 2-5 just as horses were loading. He then went back up to 2-1 almost as quickly. The winner of the race, Cane Creek Road, went from 16-1 to 7-1 at the last minute and won by a nose, paying $16.

Paulick Report asked Mike Marten, public information officer for the California Horse Racing Board, about the unusual wagering on that Sept. 6 race.

Here is Marten's written response: “We determined that a known large bettor was on track closing day and made those transactions. The teller recalls the bettor asking for $140,000 to win on the 9. The teller proceeded to punch out tickets in $10,000 increments. Each transaction took about one second. While the teller was issuing the tickets, the bettor checked his bankroll and determined that he had less than $140,000 on him, so he asked the teller to stop and asked the teller to cancel some of the tickets, which the teller did. The detailed transaction report shows that 11 tickets were issued for a total of $110,000 and that five of those tickets were canceled, leaving the customer with $60,000 to win on the 9. The entire process, from the first $10,000 wager to the last cancelation, took a total of 18 seconds, indicating there was no attempt to manipulate the odds/pool. The odds cycle report shows the 9 was under 2-1 for less than one minute.”

Marten said the CHRB has no rules that pertain directly to cancellations or pool manipulation, adding that the regulatory board does have the authority to deal with such situations.

“More importantly, the racetracks and ADWS are fully cooperative in such matters,” Marten wrote. “This is the third incident I've dealt with involving cancelations. One previous one, like this one, involved an on-track bettor who was known to the teller. We determined on that occasion that there was no attempt to manipulate pools. The third instance involved a quirky ADW customer, again not perceived to be manipulative, just strange. The ADW company spoke with him and that behavior stopped.”

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Michael Ryan, Jeff Drown, and Team Hanley's Higher Truth, piloted by Jose Ortiz, set a moderate tempo with Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Robert V. LaPenta's Shantisara stalking outside in second position under Flavien Prat over the firm turf.

Higher Truth kicked on at the top of the lane but could not fend off her stablemate, who earned the half-length score in a final time of 2:16.91.

“It was a really good race and it's a shame one of them had to lose because they both ran their hearts out. I was proud of both of their efforts,” Brown said.

Shantisara, by Coulsty, made her first five starts in France before being transferred to Brown and making her North American debut with a runner-up effort in the Boiling Springs in June at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. She entered from a convincing three-length score under Prat in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Pucker Up in August at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Higher Truth competed in all three legs of the Turf Triple, missing by a half-length when third in the Belmont Oaks, and was a game second, defeated less than a length, in the Saratoga Oaks.

Brown said he would speak with the ownership groups of both horses to see if they want to race once more this season.

Peter Brant and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' So Enchanting, a 3-year-old daughter of More Than Ready, graduated at fifth asking on the Saturday undercard to improve her record to 5-1-3-1.

With Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, the Kentucky-bred chestnut stalked in fourth position in the 1 1/16-mile turf test before engaging with pacesetter Miss Bonnie T at the eighth pole, taking command in the final sixteenth for a three-quarter length score.

So Enchanting, who was stretching out beyond one mile for the first time, has kept good company through five starts, including runner-up efforts sprinting six furlongs on the Belmont turf to launch her career, finishing in front of eventual stakes winners Bay Storm [on October 3] and Miss Brazil [on October 25].

“We always thought she had plenty of ability,” Brown said. “She stretched out nicely to a mile and a sixteenth which was good to see. She got a great trip yesterday. I was happy for her to break through and get the maiden win out of the way.”

Peter Brant's multiple Grade 1-winner Raging Bull closed to finish third under Frankie Dettori in Saturday's Grade 1 Woodbine Mile at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, contested over good going on the E. P. Taylor Turf Course.

“He didn't really handle the course. Frankie said he was struggling a little bit on the turn and lost some position there,” Brown said. “I was proud of him that he kicked in again when he got to the center of the track in the stretch. He found some firmer ground and kicked on.”

Raging Bull, a 6-year-old French-bred son of Dark Angel, boasts a record of 21-7-4-4 with purse earnings in excess of $1.6 million.

“If he comes out of it well I'm planning on making the final start of his career in the Breeders' Cup Mile,” Brown said.

Klaravich Stables' Domestic Spending and the Brant-owned Flop Shot breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 in company Sunday on the Belmont inner turf.

Domestic Spending, a three-time Grade 1 winner, finished second last out in the Grade 1 Mr. D. on August 14 at Arlington Park. Brown said the 4-year-old Kingman gelding is likely to make his next start in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf in November at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

“They went fine. It was a good work for both of them,” Brown said.

Flop Shot, a 5-year-old son of New Approach, won the 2019 Group 3 Prix de Guiche in France for his former conditioner Andre Fabre. He last raced in June 2020, finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Fort Marcy.

Brown said Flop Shot was gelded earlier this year and is close to a return to action.

Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's impressive maiden winner Jack Christopher breezed five-eighths in company in 1:01.05 Saturday on the main track in preparation for the $500,000 Grade 1 Champagne, a one-turn mile offering a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

The Munnings chestnut, purchased for $135,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, registered a 92 Beyer for a romping 8 3/4-length score on debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight on August 28 at Saratoga.

“He went well in company with a maiden. He's done everything right and settled into Belmont nicely,” Brown said.

Brown said the added distance shouldn't be an issue for the talented chestnut.

“It's still just one turn, so I think he'll be OK. I like the way he's training,” Brown said.

Peter Brant and Robert V. LaPenta's graded-stakes placed Miles D breezed a bullet half-mile in :47.84 Saturday in Saratoga on the Oklahoma dirt training track.

A maiden winner in June at Belmont, the Curlin sophomore followed with a runner-up effort to Dynamic One in the nine-furlong Curlin and was third last out in the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers.

Brown said Miles D will not start in next weekend's Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby and that he will look for other options.

“I'm not sure what I'm going to do with him yet. I'd like to give him a little bit more time,” Brown said.

Klaravich Stables' Public Sector worked a half-mile in :49.12 Saturday on the Oklahoma dirt training track. Brown said the Kingman sophomore, who won the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame and the Grade 3 Saranac at the Spa this summer, is probable for the $400,000 Grade 2 Hill Prince, a nine-furlong turf test for 3-year-olds on October 23.

W.S. Farish homebred Royal Flag, a 5-year-old multiple graded-stakes winning daughter of Candy Ride, worked a half-mile in :48.70 Saturday on the Oklahoma dirt training track.

Royal Flag won the Grade 3 Shuvee in July and closed to finish third in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign in August this summer at the Spa.

Brown said the chestnut, who sports a ledger of 11-5-3-2 with purse earnings of $435,520, will point to either the $250,000 Grade 2 Beldame on October 10 at Belmont or the Grade 1 Spinster on October 10 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

“This will be her last year of running. She's at the top of her game right now as a 5-year-old,” Brown said. “It would be nice to get her a Grade 1.”

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Breaking from the first post, jockey Daisuke Fukumoto hustled Town Cruise out to the lead in the race's opening strides, with Duke of Hazzard and Change of Control settling in second and third. Through opening fractions of :24.01 and :47.10, Town Cruise stretched his lead out to two lengths, running easily on the lead. Into the stretch, the field bunched up behind Town Cruise; Avie's Flatter tried to challenge in the stretch, but the Ontario bred was too much for him. After leading at every call, Town Cruise hit the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front, with Space Traveller and Raging Bull coming on late to finish second and third.

The final time for the G1 Woodbine Mile was 1:35.41. Find this race's chart here.

Town Cruise paid $19.30, $10.10, and $6.10. Space Traveller paid $10.20 and $6.30. Raging Bull paid $3.70.

As a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, the winner of the Woodbine Mile receives a fees-paid, guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the corresponding race at the Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be held Nov. 6 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

Co-bred by trainer Greer and his father Terrance, Town Cruise is by Town Prize out of the Candy Ride mare Candy Cruise. The Woodbine Mile is Town Cruise's third win in four starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of six wins in 14 starts and career earnings of $700,106.

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“It feels a little surreal at the moment, but I'm absolutely thrilled with him,” said Greer. “This horse is amazing. I absolutely love him. I could see him digging in, that's something that he's been able to do very well this year. Dig in the late stages, even though he's been in the front. I found it a little difficult to believe right until the final sixteenth and then I can see the other horses just didn't have enough to catch up there.”

“This is fantastic,” said winning Fukumoto. “I am still in awe, it's an unbelievable feeling. Winning a Grade I is my dream, and I got a good horse this year so far. He's been good all year so far. For me, I am just crazy happy. I had pretty good confidence. I just knew for a shot I had to take [the] front. He went good, I took the lead, and wait and wait and he finished well.”

Town Cruise finished off 2020 with a pair of fourths at Woodbine, one on turf Oct. 25 and one on synthetic Nov. 20. Kicking off this term on a winning note in a grassy Woodbine allowance June 13, he captured an optional claimer on the local lawn July 4 and was run down by Olympic Runner last out after setting the pace in the GII King Edward S. Aug. 15.

Pedigree Notes:

Town Cruise is the first black-type winner and first graded scorer for his sire Town Prize, a son of Speightstown. He is the fifth Grade I scorer, 10th graded winner and 25 black-type victor out of a daughter of Candy Ride. Brandon and Terry Greer purchased his dam Candy Cruise for $4,267 at the 2007 Canadian September Yearling Sale. Town Cruise is her third foal and she has only produced two foals since, the unraced 3-year-old filly Seriously Sweet (Society's Chairman) and an unraced juvenile filly by Frac Daddy. She failed to get in foal to Frac Daddy in the two subsequent years and did not get in foal to Seattle Serenade last year.

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This weekend's programs mark the seventh and eighth telecasts this year in the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of North America's most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6, which will be shown live on NBC and NBCSN. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here.

NBC Sports' coverage will feature commentary and discussion from its International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., led by host Britney Eurton, and analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who won 15 Breeders' Cup races including five victories in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Reporter Nick Luck and handicapper Matt Bernier will be on-site at Woodbine.

Additional highlights of NBC Sports' coverage include:

• The first live race on Saturday's show is the prestigious Pattison Canadian International
• Saturday's show will include a feature on Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse
• Sunday's show will feature an interview with celebrity chef Bobby Flay, the owner and breeder of Pizza Bianca, who runs in Sunday's Natalma Stakes

A field of 10 has been entered in the 25^th Ricoh Woodbine Mile, which will give the winner a free berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1). The race is led by Juddmonte's 5-year-old gelding Set Piece (GB), trained by Brad Cox. A talented stretch-runner, Set Piece reeled off three straight victories at Churchill Downs earlier this year, taking the Opening Verse Stakes in April, the Douglas Park Stakes in May, and the Wise Dan Stakes (G2) in June. His streak ended with a second-place finish behind Got Stormy in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 14, which was also a “Win and You're In” for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile.

Peter Brant's Raging Bull (FR) had a big chance in the 2019 Woodbine Mile, but was impeded in the stretch. He finished fourth but was moved up to third via disqualification. Trained by Chad Brown, Raging Bull has a Grade 1 win this year, taking the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland in April. He will try to rebound from a lackluster performance in the Fourstardave, where he did not accelerate in the final furlong and wound up sixth as the even-money favorite.

The Canadian-based starters are led by Live Oak Plantation's March to the Arch and Gary Barber's Olympic Runner. Both are trained by Mark Casse, who has been inducted into both the Canadian and American Racing Halls of Fame. March to the Arch finished second in last year's race, losing by 1 length after a powerful drive in the stretch came up short. This year, the 5-year-old won the Niagara Stakes over the Woodbine course on July 25, and was recently third in the King Edward Stakes (G3) on Aug. 15. Olympic Runner won the King Edward for his fifth career score. He finished second at Woodbine in the Connaught Cup (G2) prior to the King Edward.

Casse has also entered John Oxley and My Meadowview Farm's 6-year-old Ride a Comet, who has eight wins in 17 races, and is unbeaten in all four of his starts at Woodbine. Racing in the U.S. this year, Ride a Comet has one win in five starts, and was third behind Set Piece in the Wise Dan Stakes.

Clipper Logistics' Space Traveller (GB) will be making his second start in the U.S. this year for trainer Brendan Walsh, after 19 races in the care of Richard Fahey. The 5-year-old Space Traveller rallied well to finish fourth in the Mr. D. Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park on Aug. 14. In 2019, Space Traveller finished eighth in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

On Sunday, the 1-mile Natalma Stakes for 2-year-old fillies will award an automatic starting position into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), and the 1-mile Summer Stakes for 2-year-olds will offer a free berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

Mark Casse has entered four runners in the Natalma, led by D.J. Stable and Nexus Racing Club's undefeated Diabolic (IRE). After breaking her maiden in May at Gulfstream Park, Diabolic won her last two starts at Woodbine, taking the 5 ½-furlong My Dear Stakes on July 31 on the all-weather surface, and the 6 ½-furlong Catch a Glimpse Stakes on Aug. 21 on the turf course. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber's Canadian-bred Baksheesh broke her maiden by 4-lengths when she won the Muskoka Stakes at Woodbine on Aug. 29 on the all-weather surface.

Godolphin's Wild Beauty GB) has won two races in England this year for trainer Charlie Appleby. After breaking her maiden and winning a novice race, Wild Beauty comes into the Natalma off two-second place finishes, the most recent one being a 1-length defeat as the 5-2 favorite in the Sweet Solera Stakes (G3) on Aug. 7 at Newmarket.

Casse has also entered four starters in the Summer Stakes. His best chance appears to be with Harlequin Ranches' Canadian-bred First Empire, a son of 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner, Classic Empire, out of Silsita by 2000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Macho Uno. First Empire has two wins in three starts, with a 1 ¾-length victory last time out in the Soaring Free Stakes at Woodbine on Aug 21.

Godolphin's Albahr (GB) has won his last three races in England, and each time as the odds-on favorite. Also trained by Appleby, in his most recent start, Albahr captured the 1-mile EBF Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury by three-quarters of length on Aug. 20. The American runners are led by West Point Thoroughbreds, John Ballantyne, and Titletown Racing Stables' Dripping Gold.  A son of Lemon Drop Kid, Dripping Gold was an impressive debut winner at Saratoga on Aug. 7, taking a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight by 2 ¼ lengths for trainer Shug McGaughey.

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In terms of the strongest recent form, Olympic Runner deserves mentioning first as he comes into the race off a win in the G2 King Edward Stakes over the same mile trip last month. Town Cruise led from the start in the King Edward and will likely be the pacesetter from the moment the gate opens once again. King Edward third place finisher March to the Arch, who finished second in the Woodbine Mile last year, is also a contender. Avie's Flatter won the G2 Connaught Cup Stakes at the shorter distance of seven furlongs at Woodbine in July then finished a close-up fourth in the King Edward.

Set Piece (GB) is another who is in top form, having won three stakes races on grass in a row before a runner-up effort in the G1 Fourstardave at Saratoga one day before the King Edward was run at Woodbine. Ride a Comet finished third in the Wise Dan Stakes in June when last seen, that race won by Set Piece (GB), and won the G3 Tropical Turf Stakes in January at a mile on grass. Also deserving of consideration is Raging Bull (FR), a Chad Brown trainee who leads the field in career earnings at $1.5 million and who finished a troubled fourth in the 2019 Woodbine Mile, since winning the G1 Maker's Mark Mile in April.

European imports Duke of Hazzard (FR) and Space Traveller (GB) try their hand here. Duke of Hazzard (FR) has not won a race since August of 2019 when victorious in the G2 Celebration Mile Stakes at Royal Ascot. Space Traveller (GB) shipped across the pond to run in the G1 Mr. D. Stakes (formerly the Arlington Million) last month, rallying from last to finish fourth.

Change of Control rounds out the field. She's the only female in the race and her most recent success came in the G3 Intercontinental Stakes in June at seven furlongs on turf.

Very small lines in the sand separate a number of these horses in terms of their probability for success in this year's Ricoh Woodbine Mile, but I'll start with Ride a Comet as the one I think can get the job done. Winner of five races from 10 career turf starts, Ride a Comet is a perfect two-for-two when running on the Woodbine grass. He's also a perfect two-for-two on the Woodbine main track, which is the all-weather Tapeta surface.

The most recent of Ride A Comet's wins at Woodbine came last November, in the Kennedy Road Stakes, which was his second start following 13 months off and the second of three wins in a row. The win that followed was the best effort of his career, this past January when victorious in the Tropical Turf Stakes at the mile trip of the Woodbine Mile. That effort earned a career-best 117 Equibase Speed Figure which is on par with the 117 figure earned by 2020 Woodbine Mile winner Starship Jubilee and the 116 figure earned by 2019 winner El Tormenta. Earlier this year, Ride a Comet finished second behind Raging Bull (FR) in the Maker's Mark Mile in a very strong field of nine and after going seven paths wide into the stretch.

Most recently, Ride a Comet finished third in the Wise Dan Stakes, won by Set Piece (GB), who returned to finish strongly for second in the Fourstardave Handicap last month. Better still, the Wise Dan turned out to be a very productive “KEY” race from which the runner-up finished second in the Mint Million Stakes last month the fourth place finisher won the Baltimore/Washington International, the fifth and sixth place finishers returned to run second in stakes and the eighth place horse came back to win a stakes race on the grass. As such, all signs point to Ride a Comet improving markedly out of the Wise Dan and if he repeats his Tropical Turf Stakes effort he can post the upset win in this year's Ricoh Woodbine Mile.

Set Piece (GB) has run five “A” races in a row consisting of three winning efforts and two runner-up finishes. The best of those in terms of finish came when winning the Wise Dan in June, but the best in terms of how fast he ran was when earning a 116 Figure winning the Opening Verse Stakes in April at this one mile turf trip, the first of three straight stakes wins before a big second place effort rallying from last of eight in the Fourstardave Handicap last month behind the incomparable mare Got Stormy, who finished second (beaten just a half-length) in the 2019 Woodbine Mile.

One of the key elements which suggest Set Piece (GB), as well as Ride a Comet, can repeat their best recent efforts in this race is the fact that both have run their last five races without Lasix, which they will not be using in this event whereas four of the other top contenders will be racing without Lasix after running with it in their recent efforts in similar races. Set Piece (GB) has won nine of 17 races in his career including four of five on turf and gets the services of Joel Rosario, who comes off a strong performance at the tough Kentucky Downs meeting, winning seven of 30 starts and in many of those races showing tremendous riding skills skimming the rail to victory.

Space Traveller (GB) is an “X Factor” and likely to be a long shot in this race. He's won five of 20 races in his career, all on turf, including two at this mile trip. His biggest win came in the G2 Boomerang Solonaway Stakes two years ago this week, earning a 111 figure in the process at this distance and on a left handed course like the one at Woodbine. Since then, Space Traveller (GB) has won only one of seven, but two of those were notable. The first of the two came this past June when winning the Sky Bet Ganton Stakes in Great Britain after trailing early and at one mile on a left handed course. The second came just last month when rallying from last of eight to get fourth in the Mr. D. Stakes at a mile and one-quarter, which he had never run previously.

I believe that race was a prep for the Woodbine Mile and the cut back in distance will serve Space Traveller (GB) very well by providing him with a lot of late energy at this shorter trip. Perhaps most notable was the fact in the Mr. D., Space Traveller (GB) was pinched back at the start and did not appreciate that so was rank (upset) for the first part of the race. After relaxing, when asked to run he had no room then when finding room late and allowed to stretch his legs, Space Traveller (GB) did just that but it was too late. Jockey Daniel Tudhope comes back from Europe to ride the horse once again and rode him to four of his five career wins, suggesting Space Traveller (GB) can run a lot better than his high odds suggest he will.

Olympic Runner and Raging Bull (FR) also deserve mention. Olympic Runner has won just one of seven career starts on the Woodbine turf course but his most recent was his best yet as it came in the very similar King Edward Stakes last month, earning a 111 figure in the process. Olympic Runner missed by a neck in the Canadian Turf Stakes this past February with a 113 figure and without Lasix but his two most recent efforts, including a neck defeat behind Avie's Flatter in the Connaught Cup Stakes, were with Lasix.

Raging Bull (FR) likely would have finished much better than fourth in the 2019 Woodbine Mile if not for significant traffic trouble. He was moved up to third via disqualification of the original third place finisher and earned a 114 figure. This year Raging Bull (FR) won the similar Maker's Mark Mile in April before missing by a head in the Poker Stakes then a more lackluster effort when sixth as the even money favorite in the Fourstardave. With world-class jockey Frankie Dettori riding, Raging Bull (FR) might have a say in the outcome of this year's Ricoh Woodbine Mile.

The rest of the field, with their best Equibase Speed Figures, is Avie's Flatter (113), Change of Control (102), Duke of Hazzard (FR) (114), March to the Arch (115) and Town Cruise (109).

Win Contenders (in probability/preference order):
Ride a Comet
Set Piece (GB)
Space Traveller (GB)

Ricoh Woodbine Mile – Grade 1
Race 10 at Woodbine
Saturday, Sept. 18 – Post Time 6:12 PM E.T.
One Mile on Turf
Three Years Olds and Upward
Purse: $1 Million

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The 25th running of the Mile, worth $1 million and contested over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course, has attracted a strong field of 10 hopefuls. The Mile and International will be showcased on a live broadcast airing on TSN1 and TSN3 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. ET.

Under the terms of the Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' Challenge Series, the Woodbine Mile winner will be entitled to a fees-paid berth for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile, to be run on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

The silver anniversary edition of the Mile features a gold-standard mix of local and international turf stars, as well as some of the top trainers and jockeys in the sport.

Casse, who won back-to-back runnings of the race, in 2016 with Tepin and 2017 with World Approval, will look for his third victory with three formidable runners.

A six-year-old son of Arch, March to the Arch, a Live Oak Plantation homebred, is no stranger to Woodbine or the Woodbine Mile.

The bay gelding sports a record of 4-3-1 from eight starts at the Toronto oval and an overall record of 8-4-4 from 28 races.

March to the Arch, who was second, a length behind Starship Jubilee in the 2020 Mile, was third in the Grade 3 Dominion Day on July 1 and then won the Niagara Stakes on July 25.

The Florida-bred heads into the Mile off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes on August 15 where he made a late surge after encountering traffic troubles down the long E.P. Taylor Turf Course stretch.

“March to the Arch prefers a little more time between his races, plus we brought him in off a mile-and-an-eighth, so he might not have been as sharp that day,” noted Casse. “But he's a great horse, very consistent, and he's doing very well ahead of the race.”

Olympic Runner, owned by Gary Barber, arrives at Saturday's $1 million classic off a sensational score in the King Edward.

With Rafael Hernandez in the irons, the five-year-old son of Gio Ponti found daylight down the lane and went on to notch a 1 ½-length victory.

Sporting a record of 3-5-2 from 13 Woodbine engagements, the gelding, bred by Eutrophia Farm LTD, just missed winning his previous start, the Grade 2 Connaught Cup, finishing a nose behind Avie's Flatter, who is also set to contest the Mile.

Olympic Runner has a 5-7-2 mark from 23 starts, including a 2-2-0 line from seven appearances this year.

“I thought Raffi [jockey, Hernandez] did a great job,” said Casse, of the King Edward. “The pace was moderate, I guess, so he was able to position him a little closer to the pace. That horse has been so close to having a breakout performance. I kept waiting and waiting for it, and it finally came in that race. It was an excellent effort.”

Multiple graded stakes winner Ride a Comet will seek to keep his perfect record at Woodbine intact.

A six-year-old son of Candy Ride co-owned by John Oxley and breeder My Meadowview LLC, Ride a Comet is undefeated in his four Woodbine starts.

The Kentucky-bred bay's most recent triumph at the Toronto oval came in the 2020 Grade 2 Kennedy Road.

Ride a Comet, 8-1-2 from 17 starts, comes into the Mile off a third-place effort in the Grade 2 Wise Dan at Churchill Downs on June 26.

“We felt he wasn't training that well, so we gave him a bit of a break. And that seems to have really helped. He's training much better coming into this race. He'll be ready. He's a nice horse and he obviously like running at Woodbine.”

Casse is grateful to have three shots at winning the Mile.

“I am. Everybody is coming into the race in good order. I think each one has a legitimate chance to win the race.”

Ian Dalos' consistent graded stakes-winning homebred Avie's Flatter will chase his seventh win in what will be his 17th career start.

The five-year-old son of Flatter has two wins from three races this year, and goes into the Mile off a fourth in the King Edward.

Trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Josie Carroll, Avie's Flatter contested all three jewels of the 2019 Canadian Triple Crown, finishing second in both the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales, and third in the Breeders' Stakes.

Change of Control, trained by Michelle Lovell for Perry Harrison, finished third in her first start at Woodbine, the Grade 2 Royal North Stakes, on August 1.

The five-year-old daughter of Fed Biz, who has compiled a 7-6-6 mark from 28 lifetime starts, will be testing out the Grade 1 ranks for the first time.

She notched her first graded title with a win in the Grade 3 Intercontinental Stakes at Belmont this June.

A bay son of Lope de Vega (IRE), the Mile will represent the Canadian debut for Duke of Hazzard (FR).

Trained by Paul Cole for Mrs. F. Hay, the five-year-old hasn't made a trip to the winner's circle since 2019 when he notched a natural hat trick with two victories at Goodwood and another at Newmarket.

Raging Bull (FR) will get his second shot at Mile glory after finishing fourth, placed third, in the 2019 running.

A multiple graded stakes winner trained by Chad Brown for Peter Brant, the son of Dark Angel is 7-4-3 from 20 starts, his victories including last year's Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile and this year's Grade 1 Makers Mark Mile.

The six-year-old bay, bred by Dayton Investments Limited, was recently sixth as the even-money choice in the Grade 1 Fourstardave on August 14 at Saratoga.

Bred and owned by Juddmonte Farms, Set Piece (GB) has been the model of consistency over 17 career races, sporting a 9-2-1 stat line.

The five-year-old son of Dansili has three wins and a pair of seconds in his last five appearances, including a victory in the Grade 2 Wise Dan.

Trained by Brad Cox, the dark bay was off a step slowly in the Grade 1 Fourstardave, but regrouped to finish second.

Space Traveller (GB), a five-time winner from 20 starts, will look to get back to the form that saw the son of Bated Breath (GB) triumph at York this June.

Owned by Clipper Logistics, the Brendan Walsh trainee has competed twice in the U.S., the first assignment coming in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Mile (10th). The five-year-old dark bay was recently fourth in the Grade 1 Mr. D. Stakes at Arlington on August 14.

The Mile will be his first start in Canada.

Trained, owned and co-bred (along with his father Terrance) by Brandon Greer, popular local entrant Town Cruise will make his 14th career start – all at Woodbine – this Saturday.

A six-year-old son of Town Prize, the chestnut, with a 5-2-1 record from 13 starts, finished a gutsy second to Olympic Runner in the King Edward.

The Mile will be the gelding's foray into Grade 1 waters.

“Town is coming in with very good energy and high confidence, something I see increasing with each of his races this year,” said Brandon Greer. It's quite a privilege having the opportunity to run with some of the best horses in Canada and internationally. I'm sure Town will give it his best shot, which could never be disappointing to us. We're happy to be here.”

The outstanding Ricoh Woodbine Mile program will also feature the Grade 2 $250,000 Canadian Stakes, part of the Ladies of the Lawn series in support of Rethink Breast Cancer.

First race post time on Saturday is set for 1:10 p.m. For more information, visit Woodbine.com.

$1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Town Cruise – Daisuke Fukumoto – Brandon Greer

2 – Olympic Runner – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

3 – March to the Arch – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

4 – Ride a Comet – Antonio Gallardo – Mark Casse

5 – Set Piece (GB) – Joel Rosario – Brad Cox

6 – Change of Control – Colby Hernandez – Michelle Lovell

7 – Raging Bull (FR) – Frankie Dettori – Chad Brown

8 – Avie's Flatter – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

9 – Duke of Hazzard (GB) – Kazushi Kimura – Paul Cole

10 – Space Traveller (GB) – Daniel Tudhope – Brendan Walsh

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The Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1), Natalma (Grade 1) and Summer Stakes (Grade 1) are all part of the Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge Series.

A total of 23 horses have been nominated to the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1).

Chad Brown leads all trainers with four horses nominated to the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1), including multiple Grade 1 winner Raging Bull (FR) and graded stakes winner Blowout (GB), both for owner Peter Brant.

Mark Casse and Michael Maker each have three trainees nominated to the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1).

Gary Barber's Olympic Runner captured the Grade 2 King Edward on Aug. 15 at Woodbine in dazzling fashion for trainer Casse. Live Oak Plantation's March to the Arch, who was second in last year's Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1), and multiple graded stakes winner Ride a Comet for owners John Oxley and My Meadowview Farm complete Casse's trio.

Maker's trio includes last year's Ontario Derby (Grade 3) winner Field Pass for Three Diamonds Farm and multiple graded stakes winner Somelikeithotbrown for Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable.

Stronach Stables Silent Poet, the recent winner of the Grade 1 Highlander at Woodbine on Aug. 22, is nominated again to the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1). The multiple graded stakes winner could deliver more magic for trainer Nick Gonzalez.

This season's Connaught Cup (Grade 2) winner Avie's Flatter for owner Ivan Dalos and trainer Josie Carroll is nominated. Carroll also has Nassau Stakes (Grade 2) winner Jolie Olimpica nominated for Fox Hill Farms.

The Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1) will be contested for a purse of $1 million on Saturday, Sept. 18.

After a year hiatus, the Pattison Canadian International (Grade 1) returns in 2021.

A total of 13 horses have been nominated to the legendary mile and a half turf contest. Michael Maker is the only trainer with multiple horses nominated (Dynadrive, Glynn County) out of the group of 13.

Queen's Plate runner-up Riptide Rock is notably nominated to the Pattison Canadian International (Grade 1) for Stronach Stables. The Sid Attard trainee rallied from well back to narrowly miss in the $1 million Queen's Plate on Aug. 22 and is the lone 3-year-old nominated to the International.

Josie Carroll trainee Belichick, who won last year's Breeders' Stakes winner at a mile and a half over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, is nominated for NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods.

Recent Singspiel Stakes (Grade 3) winner Corelli for Augustin Stable and trainer Jonathan Thomas is among the group of 13.

The $600,000 Pattison Canadian International (Grade 1) will also be contested on Saturday, Sept. 18.

The Grade 1 stakes action will continue Sunday, Sept. 19 with the $400,000 Summer Stakes (Grade 1) for 2-year-olds and the $400,000 Natalma (Grade 1) for 2-year-old fillies. Both races, part of the Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge Series, will be contested a mile on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course

The Summer Stakes (Grade 1) received 21 nominations, while the Natalma (Grade 1) received 23 nominations.

To full list of nominated horses for the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1), Pattison Canadian International (Grade 1), Summer Stakes (Grade 1) and Natalma (Grade 1) can be viewed at the links below:

Ricoh Woodbine Mile
Pattison Canadian International
Summer Stakes
Natalma Stakes
To view the full list of nominated horses to all Woodbine stakes races, visit www.Woodbine.com/Horsepeople/.

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