Pace makes the race. Everyone with a little knowledge of a race, in this case, a horse race, knows how true that is.
Last year in the Woodbine Mile (Grade 1) the very good OSCAR PERFORMANCE had his task in the Mile made so much easier when he dawdled on the front end and had a lot left for the stretch run. Canadian MR HAVERCAMP was a nice second but because he simply tagged along with ‘Oscar’, he was helped greatly.
This year’s Mile presents a possible set-up conundrum for bettors.
Is there any pace in the race that will give any chance at all to deep closers such as the super SYNCHRONY or Grade 1 winner RAGING BULL?
On paper (yeesh, the two most dangerous words in betting parlance) there SHOULD be a honest pace set by stretch-out sprinters such as EL TORMENTA as the Sam-Son runner rarely tries longer distances anymore and he is a headstrong fellow on most days.
SILENT POET, who came off a winter layoff as a gelding and his two performances this year have been out of this world, was going a half mile in 44 1/5 in his Play the King (Grade 2) score on his way to posting a lifetime best effort.
AMERICAN GURU led all the way to win his latest around the inner turf at Woodbine and EMMAUS was not far off a 46 1/5 half mile in the King Edward in his last start in June.
Of course, the big favourite, GOT STORMY (PICTURED), the filly who comes off a lifetime best effort in the Grade 1 Fourstardave, reeled in a bananas pace in that race when the leader went 44 and change to the half mile. Once behind him by 14 lengths, Got Stormy saved ground and when the pace collapsed, went on by for the win.
Meanwhile, poor RAGING BULL, who has very little early speed, was even farther behind early in that race and then swung uncountable paths wide and rallied for second.
Even the European invader AWESOMETANK, a filly, was close to a quick pace in her North American debut in the Beverly D and she has shown to be one who likes to race close to the pace.
ADMIRALTY PIER, a local hope, was very close to the same rapid pace in the Play the ing Stakes won by Silent Poet.
All that being said, the fact that the Taylor course offers a very long stretch run, longer than the American horses are used to, may help horses such as Raging Bull. SYNCHRONY has already bounded to a nice win in his Woodbine debut, the King Edward and you could tell he loved the room down the lane.
Now to put all of that together with your handicapping methods and see what shakes down. If mos of the starters are wrangled back early, then one of these fine horses may get an easy ride early.
For my picks and analysis of the Woodbine Mile and the day’s races, please visit BETTOR’S CORNER at www.ontarioracing.com.
23RD WOODBINE MILE – SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14 – 1 MILE, E.P. TAYLOR TURF COURSE
Post time 5:42 p.m.
Horse – Trainer – Owner – Jockey
Notes and Beyer Speed Figues from last 3 races
1 El Tormenta – Gail Cox – Sam-Son Farm – Eurico Rosa Da Silva 20-1
**Ontario-bred won Grade 2 Connaught, many troubled trips since then 93, 95, 87
2 Lucullan – Kiaran P. McLaughlin – Godolphin LLC – Luis Saez 8-1
**Has won both starts off year layoff 98 98 99
3 Silent Poet – Nicholas Gonzalez – Stronach Stables – Gary Boulanger 15-1
– Ontario bred won Grade 2 Play the King on the pace – 100 – 95 -89
4 Synchrony – Michael Stidham – Pin Oak Stable – Flavien Prat 6-1
– Freshened since win in King Edward Grade 1 – 95, 101 94
5 Got Stormy – Mark E. Casse – Gary Barber and Southern Equine Stable LLC – Tyler Gaffalione 8-5
**Grade 1 winner has monster credentials 108, 100 100
6 Awesometank (GB) – William J. Haggas – Lee Yuk Lun – John Egan 8-1
**Filly was second in Grade 1 Beverly D in first race in N.A. – 99
7 Raging Bull (FR) – Chad C. Brown – Peter M. Brant – Joel Rosario 3-1
– Chad Brown trainee is Grade 1 winner, 2nd to Got Stormy 103 102 97
8 American Guru – Michael J. Doyle – Stronach Stables – Rafael Hernandez 30-1
**Won an allowance race on the lead Aug. 11; this will be his first stakes attempt 84, 84, 98
9 Made You Look Chad Brown Three Chimneys Farm Luis Contreras 12-1
**Supplemented for $20,000 and a last minute entry; garded SW was 5th in the Fourstardave behind Got Stormy
10 Emmaus (IRE) – Conor Murphy – M and J Thoroughbreds LLC and Riverside Bloodstock LLC – Channing Hill 20-1
**Irish-bred was 2nd in Connaught Cup by a head, 4th in King Edward 91, 97, 96
11 Admiralty Pier – Barbara J. Minshall – Hoolie Racing Stable LLC and Bruce Lunsford – Patrick Husbands
**Champion 2-year-old in Canada makes 3rd start off long layoff 93, 92, 98 30-1
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