Handicapper's Corner: 2019 Woodbine Mile (G1)

Fillies Tackle Colts in Woodbine Mile

By: Nick Costa, Trackside with Trackman

Our travels this Saturday take us north of the border to beautiful Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile.

The $1 million event is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifying race for the Mile, and has attracted a highly competitive field of eleven runners from across North America and Europe.

Headlining the field is the 8-5 morning line favorite, Got Stormy, sent out by trainer, Mark Casse. The four-year old filly is in sparkling form and fresh off a win in the Fourstardave (G1). She became the first female to accomplish the feat in that race. Although she goes out for Woodbine’s leading conditioner, this one should not be considered a local resident, as only one of her 15 career races have come at this track.

However, there is a quintet of horses that do call Woodbine home, headed up by recent track-record setter, Silent Poet, winner of the Play the King Stakes (G2) in his last start.

Also, in the lineup and installed as the 3-1 second choice by the Woodbine oddsmaker is, Raging Bull, saddled by none other than Chad Brown. The lightly raced colt, who was second behind Got Stormy at Saratoga, makes his first appearance at Woodbine.

Scheduled post time is 5:42 p.m. E.D.T. Here is the field from the rail out.

The Woodbine Mile is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” qualifying race for the Mile.

1 - El Tormenta – Eurico Da Silva/Gail Cox – 20-1 : This gelding has done some good things on the turf, including a win in the Connaught Cup (G2). In the Highlander (G1), he made an inside rally from last place to get up to land a fourth-place finish behind a trio of ship-ins at a distance that was probably not ideal for him. His previous two races were not smooth from a trip standpoint. Two back, he was in behind horses top of the stretch, altered course to the far outside and rallied nicely for second, beaten a half-length. Last time out, he got away a bit slow, then lacked room in upper stretch before finding a seam for a mild rally. Has a win and a second at eight-furlongs, so the distance is no problem, but now has to prove it again while facing tougher. 2 - Lucullan – Luis Saez/Kiaran McLaughlin – 8-1 : After being away from racing action for over a year, this five-year old Godolphin-owned runner returned victorious in an allowance optional claiming race at Belmont, then headed north to Saratoga and made it two wins in a row by capturing the Lure stakes. All but his first two races have come on the green stuff, and he has only missed a top three placing once when running on the grass. With five career wins and a combo of four place/show finishes from eleven races, consistency is his forte. The test gets sterner now, as he travels outside the U.S. for the first time and takes his initial step into Grade 1 company.

3 - Silent Poet – Gary Boulanger/Nicholas Gonzalez – 15-1 : Four-year old colt is a model of consistency with six wins from eleven starts and never finishing worse than second in seven races over the Woodbine turf course. He made it two straight wins for the third time in his career when winning the Play the King Stakes (G2) in a track-record performance last time out. Had some success last year as a sophomore, including winning the Vice Regent Stakes over this course/distance. Eight furlongs is a perfect fit for this local runner who continues to progress from last season and appears to have more to offer. 4 - Synchrony – Flavien Prat/Michael Stidham – 6-1 : After an unplaced finish following a barn switch to begin his four-year old campaign, this horse tried the turf. Following an impressive allowance win, a new career blossomed. He has been ultra-consistent on what is now his preferred surface, and along the way this now six-year old has racked up four Grade 3 stakes wins and a pair of Grade 2 scores. His latest came in the King Edward, a one-length score over this course/distance on the Queen’s Plate undercard. The only two times he has missed a top three placing since the switch to grass racing came in Grade 1 races. However, both were on less than firm footing, which he prefers. He is coming in fresh and if the course conditions are to his liking, he is a strong contender. 5 - Got Stormy – Tyler Gaffalione/Mark Casse – 8-5 : Last month, she became the first filly to win Saratoga’s Fourstardave (G1), and did it in track-record time off just seven days rest. This talented girl has won seven of 15 lifetime starts, and has really raised her game this year as a four-year old since kicking off her campaign with an allowance score at Gulfstream in March. Has to tackle the boys again here, but the males have to be worried about this girl. She has plenty of stakes experience and an impressive win over this Woodbine course. 6 - Awesometank – John Egan/William Haggas – 8-1 : There is no shame in finishing second to the reigning U.S. female turf champion, and that is exactly what this European girl did last time out in the Beverly D (G1), her only start on this side of the Atlantic. Kudos to the four-year old, as that was her first try at the top level. She is a three-time winner at one-mile, so the cut back here is highly favorable. She is no stranger at facing males, as she ran against some classy ones two starts back Royal Ascot. Possesses tactical speed, which should allow her to be in good position throughout. 7 - Raging Bull – Joel Rosario/Chad Brown – 3-1 : He won five of seven starts as a three-year old last season, including winning at all three graded levels. Has been blanked thus far in four starts this year, but he ran into a female ‘buzzsaw’ last outing in the Fourstardave (G1) and that opponent returns in here. On two occasions before that, he chased his stablemate (Bricks and Mortar), who undoubtedly is the best male turf runner in North America, and performed admirably against that one. Was in behind an opponent named Qurbaan in a couple of races earlier in the year and that one came back to win the Bernard Baruch (G2) closing weekend at Saratoga. The eight-furlong distance should suit him nicely. Given the competition he has run against, and taking into consideration his trainer, who seems to win every Grade1 event on grass, this colt is afforded a big chance. 8 - American Guru – Rafael Hernandez/Michael Doyle – 30-1 : Five-year old is the least experienced horse in the group, with six lifetime starts, but he’s won four of them at four different tracks, including a convincing wire-to-wire score here last month at the one-mile distance. Faces a major test, but the ability is there. 9 - Made You Look – Luis Contreras/Chad Brown – 12-1 : A supplemented entry into the race, this horse was a multiple graded stakes winner early in his career, but recorded a top three placing only once in six additional graded stakes since his last win at the graded level in early 2017. He did run over this course a couple of summers ago when fourth in a minor stakes event. Most recently, he took over the lead in the Fourstardave (G1), then fought on before weakening to a fifth-place finish. The top two horses from that event are also here. Going to be difficult to turn the tables here. Always have to respect this one’s trainer, but it does appear from its overall record, this horse needs softer company.

10 - Emmaus – Channing Hill/Conor Murphy – 20-1 : Was a debut winner nearly three years ago in Ireland, where he was bred. When he captured his third lifetime start, it was his only action in 2017 and it came nearly one year after his abbreviated juvenile season wrapped up. Kicked off his sophomore campaign with a minor-stakes win at Leicester, so in essence, this guy won three of his first four starts. However, since then, has been shut out in seven consecutive races, but to his credit, he ran extremely well in both graded stakes efforts over the Woodbine course.

11 - Admiralty Pier – Patrick Husbands/Barbara Minshall – 30-1 : This son of English Channel does not have an impressive record overall, but has shown talent: Won the Display Stakes on synthetic as a juvenile and was third in the Transylvania Stakes (G3) at Keeneland as a sophomore. Last time out in the Play the King (G2), his second start off a layoff, he stalked the pace and was in with a chance through the lane, but couldn’t close the deal. Does not look as though he can get it done in here either. Analysis: 7 * Raging Bull                4 * Synchrony                5 * Got Stormy                3 * Silent Poet # 7 - Raging Bull is a one-run closer who was much further back last race than he had ever been in prior races and had far too much work to do against the winner, Got Stormy. The Chad Brown colt came widest into the lane and still was able to close fastest of all and was beaten less than three lengths. He has faced off and closed strongly against some of the best U.S. turf horses. He makes his second start off a two-month break and looks ready for a big effort. There appears to be enough early pace for him to run at, so he will be motoring rapidly down the stretch. Jockey Joel Rosario, who has been aboard for all five of the colt’s wins, returns after a two-race absence. This one gets my top call. #4 - Synchrony just missed two starts back against a G1 stakes winner who was runner-up in last year’s Arlington Million (G1), so there is no doubting this horse has the class to compete against this group. He is in top form with a pair of bullet workouts in preparation. He has a potent closing kick, so look for him to be finishing fast. Kentucky Derby and Queen’s Plate winning rider, Flavien Prat, adds extra attraction. #5 - Got Stormy was too much for the boys to handle in a freakish performance in the Fourstardave. That win came off seven days rest and earned her a lifetime best speed figure. She is the one to beat based on her last two outings, however, she could be vulnerable to regress following those dominant performances. Wagering: WIN: #7 EX: 4,7/3,4,5,7 TRI: 4,7/3,4,5,7/3,4,5,6,7 Good luck, and as always, enjoy the race!!

a