Saturday’s Ricoh Woodbine Mile is a Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection “Win and You’re In” race for the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Offered by PDJF, providing the winner a fees-paid berth to the Nov. 4 race on the second day of the World Championships at Santa Anita Park.
The $1 million Woodbine Mile yearly attracts among the greatest middle-distance turf horses in North America in addition to a number of worldwide invaders. The Woodbine Mile will likely be broadcast nationwide on a NBC present airing from 5 p.m. to six p.m. ET Saturday as a part of NBC Sports activities’ Street to the Breeders’ Cup collection. The published can also be obtainable for livestreaming on Peacock. Be taught extra in regards to the race with these enjoyable information.
What’s in a reputation. The Woodbine Mile had three title modifications earlier than it was referred to as the Woodbine Mile Stakes in 1997 and 1998. It then held a special title – the Atto Mile – from 1999 by means of 2005, and returned to the Woodbine Mile Stakes in 2006. Since 2011, it has been referred to as the Ricoh Woodbine Mile.
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 as we speak.
Neil Drysdale. Racing Corridor of Fame member Neil Drysdale holds the title for many wins by a coach, having gained 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 gained three consecutive editions of the Woodbine Mile from 2011 to 2013 and Corridor of Famer Bobby Frankel skilled the winner in 2000, 2005, and 2009). Drysdale holds a novel 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. Drysdale has Homer Display screen pointed to this 12 months’s race.
Worldwide illustration. In complete, the Woodbine Mile has been gained 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 probably 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 gained 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 report for the quickest time, 1:31:75, set in 2013. As famous above, his coach, Charlie LoPresti, holds the report for many consecutive wins by a coach, having additionally gained 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 probably 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 was inducted into the Racing Corridor of Fame in 2012.
Mares. 4 mares have gained the Woodbine Mile. The aforementioned Dance Well was the primary in 1991 (on the time on a special 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 gained the Woodbine Mile by a size as a 7-year-old.
Trendy 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 greatest elders within the race … till Trendy Video games shipped in to Woodbine in 2022 and gained by 5 1/4 lengths because the odds-on favourite. Trendy 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.
