A field of eight seeking the $600,000 first place prize will go postward at 5:35 pm ET over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course. The Woodbine Mile is now a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' race, giving the winner an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Mile, October 25 at Santa Anita.
Kip Deville, unbeaten in his last three starts for trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr., including the 2007 Breeders' Cup Mile at Monmouth Park, will carry top weight of 124 pounds with jockey Cornelio Velasquez. Last year, 'Kip' finished second to favoured Shakespeare in the Woodbine Mile, after leading in late stretch.
Juddmonte Farms' Ventura, trained by Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, is the 4-1 second choice, as she seeks to become the first filly to win the Woodbine Mile in its 12 editions. Garrett Gomez, who rode Shakespeare to victory in last year's renewal, will ride the four-year-old daughter of Chester House, who captured the Grade 1 Just A Game Stakes in June at Belmont Park. A win would also give Frankel his third Mile victory, following longshot Riviera in 2000 and favoured Leroidesanimaux in 2005.
Tucci Stables' Just Rushing, trained by Sid Attard, is the 5-1 third choice. Winner of the recent Play the King Stakes, Just Rushing, with Jim McAleney up, would become the oldest winner of the Mile, at age 7, should he succeed. A victory would also give Attard his second Mile win, after scoring with Numerous Times in 2001.
Completing the field are Wollemi Pine (6-1, Emma-Jayne Wilson), Mulmur (10-1, Eurico Rosa da Silva), Rahy's Attorney (12-1, Slade Callaghan), Ice Bear (15-1, Chantal Sutherland) and Palladio (20-1, Richard Dos Ramos).
Also on the undercard card is the Grade 2, $300,000 Canadian Stakes, at one mile and one-eighth on the grass for fillies and mares, slated for 2:46 pm.
First race post time is 1:10 pm, with free general admission and free parking, as always.
