Rexdale, ON – Juddmonte Farms’ homebred five-year-old mare Ventura became the first female to win the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile in its 13 editions, rallying from ninth at the head of the lane to outbattle Ferneley in the final sixteenth of a mile, Sunday at Woodbine.
At the finish of the turf classic, Ventura and jockey Garrett Gomez had bested Ferneley by one length, with Sterwins a closing third, three lengths behind, and Jungle Wave fourth in a stakes record 1:32.04, just one-fifth of a second off the course record of 1:31.84 set by Royal Regalia in 2004.
It was the third Mile win for trainer Bobby Frankel, who also trained Riviera, winner of the 2000 edition and favoured Leroidesanimaux, who easily captured the 2005 renewal. Frankel now ties fellow conditioner Neil Drysdale for most Mile wins. It was the second Mile win for Gomez, who piloted favoured Shakespeare to victory in 2007, but the first win for Juddmonte.
Ventura also became only the second horse to win the Woodbine Mile after finishing second the previous year. Last year, the daughter of the late Chester House was the runner-up to Rahy’s Attorney over a yielding turf course. Sam-Son Farms’ Soaring Free won the 2004 Mile in the previous stakes record time of 1:32.72, after finishing second to Touch of the Blues in 2003.
Met Mile winner Bribon went postward a slight 2-1 favourite over Ventura, also at 2-1, in the field of 10, but it was Grand Adventure who immediately went to the front, taking the field through a quarter in 23.55 and a half in 46.03. The Sam-Son runner still led after three-quarters in 1:09.08, but was about to be swallowed up by Jungle Wave and Rahy’s Attorney as the field turned for home. Bribon had moved through on the inside to launch his stretch assault but faded slightly in the final sixteenth to finish fifth, nosed out by Sterwins and Jungle Wave. Meanwhile, Ventura, who had been allowed to lag in ninth throughout, was pushed outside by Gomez for the stretch run and, displaying an incredible turn of foot, exploded in mid-stretch, collaring the leaders and drawing away to the ultra-impressive score.
Ventura hadn’t raced since April, finishing second to Informed Decision over Keeneland’s Polytrack in the Grade 1, seven furlong Madison. After that, her connections decided to give her the summer off and point for the Woodbine Mile. “You don’t worry with Bobby (Frankel, about a horse’s fitness),” said Gomez. “He knows this filly like the back of his hand. She was off for a while, but you could see she was feeling her oats and had those pre-race nerves. But I got her calmed down and after that, she settled in.”
“With soft ground, it kind of hurts her chances because she’s got such a beautiful turn of foot. On soft ground, she’s not able to show that explosive move like she did today. Coming off the layoff and doing what she did today, she’s just a tremendous mare. I didn’t have to get into her a whole lot. I squeezed her but didn’t use the whip on her at all. She went by them so fast. It was just a tremendous performance.”
Since arriving in North America from England in late 2007, Ventura has won six of 11 starts, including three Grade 1 races, and hasn’t been worse than third. She’s also just a nose and a head away from taking two other Grade 1 races while proving her versatility over both grass and synthetic surfaces. “A great credit to Bobby and all the crew, having her ready off the layoff,” said Garrett O’Rourke, Juddmonte Farms Lexington Farm Manager. “I know she’s one of his (Frankel’s) favourites). She’s a super mare, so full of spit and vinegar. The ground definitely made a difference today. She has a fantastic turn of foot and Garrett rode her perfectly.”
Despite the fact that the Woodbine Mile was a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In Race (for the Breeders’ Cup Mile), Ventura will not contest the BC Mile on November 7. Rather, she will be defending her crown in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint the day before, a race she won last year, flashing that trademark turn of foot while blowing by favoured Indian Blessing in the seven furlong event over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface.
Ventura entered the Woodbine Mile as the field’s leading money winner, with over $1.6 million, and added another $600,000 to her incredible resume with the win.
As the close second choice, Ventura paid $6.20, $$3.30 and $3.20, combining with Ferneley ($5.80, $4.30) for a $43.20 (9-3) exactor. A 9-3-2 (Sterwins, $4.20 to show) triactor was worth $239.30, while a $1 Superfecta [9-3-2-10 (Jungle Wave)] returned $869.85.
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