Master of the Mile
By: Nick Costa, Trackside with Trackman
Contested over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor turf course, the $1 million event is part of the Breeders' Cup ‘Win and You're In' Challenge Series. Under the terms of the series, the winner is entitled to a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Mile, to be run on November 4 at Santa Anita.
The small field of six horses that make up this year’s edition of the Woodbine Mile includes five locally based runners, three of them from the barn of Hall-of-Fame trainer Mark Casse, and a lone international entrant. The strong duo of trainer Charles Appleby, who conditioned last year’s winner, Modern Games, and jockey, William Buick, who was aboard for the winning ride, return in 2023 with the Godolphin-owned Master of the Seas. The five-year-old gelding is a multiple Group 2 winner across the Atlantic.
The race will be televised on the NBC network beginning at 5pm E.T. with post time slated for 5:42.
Let’s have a brief look at the field from the rail out.
PP – HORSE – Jockey/Trainer – M.L. Odds
1 - MASTER OF THE SEAS – William Buick/Charles Appleby – 1-1: Is a two-time Group 2 winner this year and was also second in the Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas last season at Newmarket. Has not raced in over two months but has run extremely well and has won after long layoffs. His overall record at this one-mile distance in combination with his class, form and high-profile connections makes him a formidable opponent and certainly the one to beat as the probable favorite.
2 - WAR BOMBER – Rico Walcott/Norm McKnight – 6-1: Was well beaten in ninth place a year ago in the Woodbine Mile. Has shown improvement after moving back to the grass in his last two outings, finishing second and first in a pair of Grade 2 stakes, the last one being at this one-mile distance. Has been quite successful on this E.P. Taylor turf course, so there is reason to be optimistic if you like his chances.
3 - SHIRL’S SPEIGHT – John Velazquez/Roger Attfield – 5-2: After returning from Dubai following a fourth-place finish in the Group 1 World Cup Turf, he was given a five-month break before returning to finish fourth in the Group 2 King Edward Stakes. He does have a Grade 1 win on his resume and showed he can compete against top company when he was runner-up to Modern Games in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last Fall. Must be respected.
4 - ICE CHOCOLAT – Joel Rosario/Mark Casse – 9-2: Brazilian-bred seeks his first stakes win. He is a two-time winner on the Woodbine turf in sprints but has been blanked going further. Most recently, he was a troubled third beaten in the Grade 1 Fourstardave Stakes at Saratoga. Deep closer will be a big price on Saturday, but if he catches a fast pace, he may be able to land a share.
5 – MY SEA COTTAGE – Dylan Davis/Mark Casse – 15-1: Irish-bred horse has done all his racing in North America and although he hails from the Casse barn, only three of his 16 lifetime starts have come at Woodbine and two of those three races were turf starts. Has done most of his racing on the Gulfstream lawn but has made stops at Belmont and Saratoga. The expected pace setter will try to lead as far as he can as he tries for his first stakes win.
6 - LUCKY SCORE – Sahin Civaci/Mark Casse – 15-1: Has been in very good form the last two years, finishing in the top three spots in 8 of 10 races. Three starts back, he became a Grade 2 winner and then followed that up with back-to-back third place finishes in the Connaught Cup and the King Edward Stakes, both Grade 2 events. His effort last out where he rallied for the show spot was his first try beyond seven furlongs and he acquitted himself nicely. A repeat of that could land him a small slice of the pie.
ANALYSIS: Obviously, this race goes through Master of the Seas. Appleby has an astonishing 54%-win rate when he ships over to North America, and I expect his horse to positively add to that category. Master of the Seas should be well placed behind the leader and then it’s just a matter of when Buick wants to let him loose and go on to become ‘Master of the Mile’.
The fourth-place finish for Shirl’s Speight in the King Edward came off a five-month layoff and he certainly needed the race, so he is eligible to improve here. He recorded a bullet work in his preparation and now gets the riding services of John Velazquez. He’s won a Grade 1 at this distance and his memorable run in the BC Mile still sticks in my head. He showed his class that day and then again in Dubai where he was beaten less than three lengths against some of the world’s best grass horses.
Ice Chocolat had trouble plenty in the Fourstardave and managed to get third. He’s been primarily sprinting but has finished in the top three spots at this distance, including a win, so he should be in his comfort zone going eight furlongs. He has the best closing fraction number from last race and rider Joel Rosario stays aboard.
WAGER: With our mythical ThoroFan dollars, we’ll make the following wagers.
$30 Exactas Master of the Seas over Shirl’s Speight and Ice Chocolat – 1/3,4 - Total $60
$5 Trifecta Wheel – Master of the Seas in the win spot with Shirl’s Speight and Ice Chocolat in the second and third positions, adding in War Bomber and Lucky Score to the third slot. – 1/3,4/2,3,4,6 Total $30
.50 cent Superfecta Key – 1/2,3,4,6 - Total $12
Good luck and as always, enjoy the race!!
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