Peter Brant’s RAGING BULL did not have fun when he visited Woodbine in 2019 for the Ricoh Woodbine Mile. At 3-to-1 for that year’s Grade 1 turf mile, he had a dreadful journey that saw him finish fourth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths behind longshot El Tormenta and placed third through the disqualification of Lucullan.
That was two years ago and Raging Bull, trained by Chad Brown, is now six. He has two wins since then including the Grade 1 Makers Mark this past April at Keeneland. He is a stone-cold closer and will be be dependent on a rapid pace up front if he is to have success in this years Woodbine Mile, Saturday, September 18.
Currently there are 11 horses looking at starting in the ‘no-Lasix’ Mile including three from the Mark Casse team. There are two mares and a couple of local runners on the possible entrants list.
SET PIECE could be favoured in the Mile since he has won five of his last eight races, was second in the Grade 1 Fourstardave in his most recent race and is trained by Brad Cox for Juddmonte. The son of Dansili has nine wins in 17 races and is also a deep, closing type.
The Casse trio includes OLYMPIC RUNNER, a win-shy guy who finally won one Aug. 15, taking the King Edward Stakes at Woodbine. Five of the top six finishers in that Grade 2 are coming back in the Mile. Olympic Runner will be off Lasix. He was fourth in last year’s Mile behind Starship Jubilee and March to the Arch.
MARCH TO THE ARCH is back and he is another trusty gelding for Casse. The 6-year-old won last year’s King Edward Stakes before his second in the Mile. He loves Woodbine but he does have to hurry at the distance. RIDE A COMET, a 6-year-old horse, came off a two-year-layoff last fall and won three races including the Tropical Turf (Grade 3). He was hailed as a potential Grade 1 type horse but he has not won since. His last race was in June when he was third in the Wise Dan stakes behind Set Piece.
European DUKE OF HAZZARD and former Euro SPACE TRAVELLER could nibble. Duke of Hazzard was a bear in 2019 and he won the Group 2 Celebration Mile. He has not won in 12 races since then for trainer Paul Cole.
SPACE TRAVELLER joined trainer Brendan Walsh’s barn recently and he ran in the 10 furlong Mr. D (Arlington Million) Stakes and moved up to be fourth beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Two Emmys. A Group 2 winner in Ireland, Space Traveller was previously sixth in the Group 1 Sussex stakes.
JOLIE OLIMPICA and CHANGE of CONTROL are the mares. The former joined Josie Carroll’s barn this year in search of Lasix and won the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes by three-quarters of a length. She recently was sixth in the King Edward and she will not have Lasix for the Mile.
Change of Control is a turf sprinter who has never tried a route distance on grass. She did win at seven furlongs at Belmont in June, taking the Grade 3 Intercontinental Stakes. Recently she was a closing third in the Royal North at Woodbine at six furlongs too Amalfi Coast.
AVIE’S FLATTER and TOWN CRUISE are Ontario owned, bred and trained. The former won his first two races of the year and then was fourth in the King Edward. TOWN CRUISE is a speedball for Brandon Greer and he has blossomed in 2021. He won two turf route races off the layoff and then was second n the King Edward after setting the pace.
Saturday also features the $600,00 Pattison Canadian International which was moved from its usual October slot. WALTON STREET, owned by Godolphin Management figures to be arguing as favourite with Singspiel Stakes winner CORELLI.
WOODBINE MILE PROBABLE FIELD
Raging Bull, Chad Brown 6th, 2021 Fourstardave Handicap (G1)
March to the Arch, Mark Casse 3rd, 2021 King Edward (G2)
Set Piece, B. Cox 2nd, 2021 Fourstardave Handicap (G1)
Jolie Olimpica, Josie Carroll 6th 2021 King Edward (G2)
Ride a Comet, Mark Casse 3rd, 2021 Wise Dan (G2)
Avie’s Flatter, Josie Carroll 4th, 2021 King Edward (G2)
Change of Control, Michelle Lovell , 3rd, 2021 Royal North (G2)
Olympic Runner, Gio Ponti . Casse 1st, 2021 King Edward (G2)
Town Cruise, Brandon Greer 2nd, 2021 King Edward (G2)
Duke Of Hazzard, P. Cole 7th, 2021 Celebration Mile (G2)
Space Traveller, Bated Breath B. Walsh 4th, 2021 Mister D (G1)
More from News:
