Woodbine Mile attracting a dozen turf runners

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Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) – A dozen turf specialists are listed as probable for Sunday’s $1 million Woodbine Mile at Woodbine Race Course.

Won the last two years by two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, the Woodbine Mile is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, giving the winning horse a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita. Wise Dan will not attempt a third straight victory just two weeks after capturing the Bernard Baruch at Saratoga.

Last year’s third-place finisher Trade Storm is back from overseas for the race. Trained by David Simcock for Qatar Racing Limited, the 6-year-old will be coming off consecutive runner-up results in England.

Jamie Spencer will be back as Trade Storm’s rider after relinquishing the mount in 2013’s Mile to Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens. Stevens is rehabbing after knee surgery this summer.

Trade Storm has won five of 33 career starts with five seconds and three thirds for $893,749.

Trainer Christophe Clement will saddle Summer Front on Sunday for Waterford Stable. Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez is slated to ride the 5-year-old.

Summer Front is also trying to stop a four-race losing streak, which includes seconds in his three most recent starts. He was runner-up in the Fort Marcy, Shoemaker and Eddie Read. The 5-year-old won the Fort Lauderdale at Gulfstream Park to start the year in January. As the 2-1 favorite, however, he finished seventh in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap.

Summer Front has earned $874,140 with eight wins, five seconds and three thirds from 20 lifetime starts.

Here are the 12 probable starts for the Mile with trainers and listed jockeys: Ancil, Joan Scott, TBA; Best Bard, Jim Smith, TBA; Bobby’s Kitten, Chad Brown, Joel Rosario; Dorsett, Brian Lynch, TBA; Grand Arch, Brian Lynch, David Moran; His Race to Win, Malcolm Pierce, Eurico Rosa da Silva; Jack Milton, Todd Pletcher, Javier Castellano; Kaigun, Mark Casse, Patrick Husbands; Lockout, Mark Casse, Gary Boulanger; River Seven, Nick Gonzalez, Jesse Campbell; Summer Front, Christophe Clement, John Velazquez and Trade Storm, David Simcock, Jamie Spencer.

The 18th Woodbine Mile will be televised on TSN and FOX Sports 1.

Categorized in: Horses

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