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Sunday's Woodbine Mile, worth $1 million and a spot in the Breeders' Cup Mile, drew a dozen grass runners with experience in England, France and Dubai. The race highlights a weekend program filled with grassy grandeur at distances ranging from sprints to marathons and for all ages and genders. There also are some important heats for the youngsters and a $400,000 race for 3-year-old fillies.
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Morning-line favorite for the Ricoh Woodbine Mile is Courageous Cat, who comes into the race off wins in both his starts this year -- the Poker Stakes at Belmont June 10 and the July 2 Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park. Two years ago, Courageous Cat failed to hold off the late run of the great Goldikova in the Breeders' Cup Mile, finishing second by 1/2 length. He finished a well-beaten ninth in this year's Dubai Duty Free.
Asked about his wins this year, trainer Bill Mott said: "There's nothing not to like about them. They were both good races … As of right now, we're cautiously optimistic."
And about the prospect of meeting Goldikova again in the Breeders' Cup, where she would be trying for an unprecedented fourth straight win, Mott said: "Absolutely. That's why we're doing this."
The Woodbine Mile is a "win-and-you're-in" race for the Nov. 5 event. In addition, because the purse is listed in Canadian funds, it's actually worth more than $1 million in American greenbacks.
The British contingent includes Side Glance and Dance and Dance, who finished first and second, respectively, in the Group III Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury a month ago. Forte Dei Marmi also has been racing in England and Right One, a French-bred, started his career at Maisons-Laffitte.
Last year's Woodbine Mile winner, Court Vision, is back and listed at 10-1 odds on the morning line after being idle since mid-June.
While no horse has won both the Woodbine Mile and the Breeders' Cup Mile, the Canadian race has produced many contenders. Geri in 1997, Leroidesanimaux in 2005 and Touch of the Blues in 2003, all won the Woodbine Mile and finished second in the Breeders' Cup. Good Journey in 2002 and Labeeb in 1998 finished first and third in the two races. Court Vision last year finished fifth in the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Sunday's $500,000 (Canadian) Northern Dancer Turf, presented by Vtech, runs at 1 1/2 miles on the grass -- the same distance as the Breeders' Cup Turf. A field of eight was entered, including British shipper and frequent international traveler Wigmore Hall.
Continuing the turf theme, Parx Racing Saturday offers the $250,000 PTHA President's Cup, for 3-year-olds and up at 9 furlongs on the lawn. Smart Bid, a Graham Motion trainee, is the likely favorite. He has won only once in seven starts so far this year but has finished on the board in each start while running against quality competition. Violon Sacre, who won the race last year, is back for another try.
A field of eight is set for Saturday's $250,000, Grade I Garden City Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park. Heading the list for that 9-furlong turf event is Winter Memories, who boasts four graded stakes wins from her last seven starts. However, among her rivals Saturday will be Hungry Island, winner of the Grade II Lake Placid at Saratoga in her last outing -- a race in which Winter Memories failed to fire and finished fourth. "I would like for her to make amends for her last race," Winter Memories' trainer Jimmy Toner said at the post position draw. Also in the field is More Than Real, who finished last year with a victory over Winter Memories in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs.
At Arlington Park, the field for Saturday's $100,000, Grade III Pucker Up Stakes for fillies and mares at 9 grassy furlongs includes several with stakes success but disappointing last starts. The exception is the likely favorite, Marketing Miss, who in her last start beat fellow Ontario-breds in the $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes at Woodbine. The Medaglia d'Oro filly also has hit the board in the $150,000 Fury Stakes and the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks.
Sunday, Belmont's feature is the $100,000 Noble Damsel Handicap for older distaffers going 1 mile on the grass.
And at Woodbine, Sunday's $300,000 (Canadian) Canadian Stakes for fillies and mares will be contested at 9 furlongs on the grass course. That field is headed by Zagora, Fantasia, Shared Account, Bay to Bay and Never Retreat.
In West Virginia, Saturday's marquee event is the $400,000 Charles Town Oaks, with the sophomore misses going 7 furlongs on the main track.
Juvenile racing features a pair of 1-mile grass races on Saturday at Woodbine. The $250,000 (Canadian), Grade III Summer Stakes, presented by TVG, is open while the $200,000 (Canadian), Grade III Natalma Stakes is restricted to 2-year-old fillies.
Fairplex Park has the $110,000 Barretts Juvenile at 6 1/2 furlongs on Sunday and the $110,000 Barretts Debutante at the same distance on Saturday. Both are restricted to 2-year-olds sold at a Barretts sale.
Charles Town cards the $100,000 Charles Town Juvenile at 7 furlongs and the $75,000 Miss Shenandoah for 2-year-old fillies going 4 1/2 furlongs on Saturday. And Calder Race Course has the $65,000 Brave Raj for 2-year-old fillies and the $65,000 Foolish Pleasure for 2-year-olds on the Saturday schedule, both at 1 mile and 70 yards.
