Woodbine Mile attracts 11 turf runners

Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) – Local stakes winner Kaigun has been listed as the 5-2 morning line favorite versus 10 rivals 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.

Kaigun, trained by Mark Casse and co-owned by Gary Barber, will break from post 5 with Patrick Husbands again in the saddle. Husbands won the 2001 Mile aboard Numerous Times while Casse will saddle a starter in the race for the first time. Barber was a co-owner of 2006 Mile victor Becrux.

Kaigun won the seven-furlong Play the King Stakes at Woodbine last month for his first career stakes win. The 4-year-old chestnut gelding had been fifth as the 3-1 favorite in Monmouth Park’s United Nations Handicap in July.

“I was worried about cutting him back from a mile and three-eighths to seven- eighths,” explained Casse, about going from the United Nations to the Play the King.

“I thought he was very impressive. I think probably he might be a better miler but it doesn’t seem to make much of a difference. He can do anything. I don’t know if he’s any better now than he was in the spring (when finishing second to Wise Dan in the Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland) but his last race was powerful. We gelded him (after winning his turf debut a year ago). That really helped too.”

Kaigun comes into Sunday’s race with four wins and three seconds in 14 lifetime starts for $563,786.

Trade Storm, last year’s third-place finisher, is back from overseas for the race. Trained by David Simcock for Qatar Racing Limited, the 6-year-old will start from post 2 and is 6-1 in the program.

“He was a little slow out of the gates last year and had a lot to do, along with Wise Dan to beat,” noted Simcock.

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.

“Jamie knows the horse very well and he is versatile as to how he can be ridden,” said Simcock.

The 6-year-old is coming off consecutive runner-up results in England for his connections.

“He ran a good race at York (England), they raced early and he was in front but just got caught, no complaints a very solid run.

“Trade Storm is in good form in preparation for this race – he had a break after running in Dubai earlier in the year and has progressed with his most recent two starts. A mile is good for him, he prefers good ground or faster.”

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

Here is the field for the Mile in post position order: River Seven, Jesse Campbell, 20-1; Trade Storm, Jamie Spencer. 6-1; 3 Ancil, Justin Stein, 20-1; Silver Freak, John Velazquez, 20-1; Kaigun, Patrick Husbands, 5-2; Dorsett, Luis Contreras, 15-1; Lockout, Gary Boulanger, 10-1; Bobby’s Kitten, Joel Rosario, 15-1; Jack Milton, Javier Castellano; 7-2; His Race to Win, Eurico Rosa da Silva, 15-1 and Grand Arch, David Moran, 4-1.

The 18th Woodbine Mile has an approximate post time of 6:13 p.m. ET and will be televised on TSN and FOX Sports 1.

Categorized in: Horses