2012 Breeders' Cup Berths On The Line At Woodbine

2012 Woodbine Mile Video: Wise Dan With A Smooth Trip Around The Hedge

The 2012 Woodbine Mile was an excellent case study of what happens when you combine a top class runner with a picture perfect trip around the course. Not only was Wise Dan the overwhelming winner of the Woodbine Mile, but he also received on of the best trips of any horse in the field. Racing near the inner hedge for much of the race, Wise Dan passed early leader Worthadd (IRE) on the inside coming off the far turn and put away the field under mild urging from jockey John Velazquez. Hunters Bay and Cityscape (GB) gave chase inside the final quarter mile but their efforts did little to trouble the winner.

Third place finisher Cityscape (GB) did well to finish in the top three after covering the most ground of any horse in the field - 5,377 feet. According to the Trakus data, Cityscape averaged 38.6 mph during the race, just a tick slower than Wise Dan's 38.7 mph, but he finished four lengths behind the winner due primarily to a wide trip. Cityscape could be a great horse to bet next time out at inflated odds.

The Woodbine Mile is a one-turn mile (one of the few one-turn turf miles you'll find in North American race), while the Breeders' Cup Mile will be a two-turn affair at Santa Anita. That shouldn't be any kind of issue for Wise Dan as he's proved over and over again that he can run on a variety of different surfaces, distances and pace scenarios. Not only is he arguably the best turf horse in North America right now, but he's also the most versatile horse in training.

Northern Dancer Stakes 2012 Video: Wigmore Hall Wins Despite Poor Trip

Perhaps the most exciting race at Woodbine on Sunday was the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Stakes, won by Wigmore Hall (IRE) for the second year in a row. Al Khali ran a huge race along the rail and lost by only a head to Wigmore Hall; a unusually good trip for Al Khali given his tendency to find trouble in every race he runs.

The Trakus electronic timing and trip data helps to paint the picture of Wigmore Hall's victory. Although Wigmore Hall only won by a head to Al Khali, he traveled more than 20 feet further than the runner-up over the course of the race. That difference in trip equates to at least a couple of lengths, if not more. Fourth place finisher Scalo (GB) fared even worse, traveling sixteen feet further than Wigmore Hall and almost 40 feet further than Al Khali and show horse Forte Dei Marmi (GB).

The connections of Wigmore Hall indicated in interviews after the race that they are unlikely to go to the Breeders' Cup to run in the Turf.

Below is the video replay of Wigmore Hall's victory in the Northern Dancer Stakes.

2012 Ontario Derby Video: Stealcase Takes The Long Route To Victory

It was a fairly chalky affair in the 2012 Ontario Derby, but the connections of winner Stealcase don't care one bit as their colt won the first graded stakes race of his career at Woodbine.

The Ontario Derby, a nine furlong race over the Woodbine Polytrack, saw a fairly soft pace through the opening half mile. Gung Ho set factions of 24.47, 49.82 and 1:13.94, almost a crawl-like pace scenario, but faded at the top of the stretch despite the easy splits. Any Given Royal grabbed the lead momentarily but was no match for Stealcase in the final strides, finishing a length and a quarter behind the winner.

According the Trakus electronic timing data from the race, Stealcase and Any Given Royal covered the most ground of any horses in the race. Stealcase traveled 6,061 feet. Any Given Royal ran 6,064 feet. All the other horses in the field ran a minimum of apporoximately 30 fewer than the top two finishers, and the third and fourth place runners (River Rush and Gung Ho) traveled over 60 feet less. In short, Stealcase and Any Given Royal were clearly the best of the field.

Below is the race replay of the G3-Ontario Derby.

Woodbine Mile 2012 Results: Wise Dan Wins With Ease

Wise Dan stalked a strong early pace set by long shots Artic Fern and Worthaad (IRE), powered by the leaders at the top of the stretch on the inside, and rolled home to win the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile under a hand-ride by jockey Johnny Velazquez. With the win in the Woodbine Mile, Wise Dan has secured a spot in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita Park on November 3rd. Hunters Bay finished second while European raider Cityscape (GB) rounded out the trifecta after a wide trip off the turn.

Wise Dan took a lot of action from the crowd as soon as the betting opened following race 9. He was bet down from his morning line odds of 6/5 to 1/2 and then hovered between 1/2 and 3/5 for much of the run-up to the race. He went to post at 1/2/

The Woodbine Mile is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" series. The winner of a Breeders' Cup Challenge race receives a spot in the starting gate at the Breeders' Cup, a waiver of entry fees, and a travel allowance. Given the strength of his last two victories, Wise Dan will certainly be one of the betting favorites at the Breeders' Cup Mile, if not the favorite.

Below are the results and payouts of the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.

WIN: 3-Wise Dan ($3.10, $2.70, $2.10)
PLACE: 6-Hunters Bay ($6.30, $4.40)
SHOW: 7-Cityscape (GB) ($2.90)

$1.00 EXACTA: $13.65
$1.00 TRIFECTA: $65.50
$0.20 SUPERFECTA: $52.56
$0.20 PICK 3: $6.95

2012 Northern Dancer Stakes Results: Wigmore Hall Repeats At Woodbine

Wigmore Hall (IRE) fought off a game Al Khali in the final furlong to win the Grade 1 Northern Dancer for the second consecutive year. In the 2011 Northern Dancer, Wigmore Hall won by a neck over Simmard. This year the margin was only a head but it was enough to secure the repeat victory. Forte Dei Marmi (GB), winner of the G2-Sky Classic at Woodbine in his last race, suffered through a tough trip and finished third.

Irish Mission and Celtic Conviction broke quickly and set the early pace through a slow half mile of 50 seconds flat and a six furlong clip of almost 1:15 second. At the top of the stretch the field fanned five wide across the track with Wigmore Hall moving to the lead and Al Khali putting forth a huge effort along the rail. Al Khali looked like he might grab his first graded stakes win in a long, long time, but Wigmore Hall would not be denied.

Wigmore Hall is a five-year-old gelding by High Chaparral (IRE) out of a Theatrical (IRE) mare (Love And Laughter (IRE)), trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Jamie Spencer.

Below are the results and payouts for the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Stakes.

WIN: 7-Wigmore Hall (IRE) ($9.40, $4.90, $3.50)
PLACE: 3-Al Khali ($4.50, $3.10)
SHOW: 5-Forte Dei Marmi (GB) ($4.00)

$1.00 EXACTA: $19.95
$1.00 TRIFECTA: $87.30
$0.20 SUPEFECTA: $46.29
$0.20 PICK 3: $124.47

Ontario Derby 2012 Results: Late Surge By Stealcase For The Win

Stealcase used a late, three-wide move to pass favorite River Rush and Any Given Royal in the final furlong to win the Grade 3 Ontario Derby at Woodbine. Coming off a disappointing seventh place finish in the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga in his last start, Stealcase's win in the Ontario Derby is first graded stakes race victory of his career after finishing in the money in the G1-Haskell, G2-Matt Winn and G3-Derby Trial.

Gung Ho broke alertly and set a middling pace on the front end through a half mile in almost 50 seconds and six furlongs in 1:14 flat. At the top of the stretch, Gung Ho could find no more and surrendered the lead to Any Given Royal, with River Rush making a move along the rail to secure second place. In the final furlong, Stealcase found his best stride and mowed down the leaders to win by an easy length at the wire.

Stealcase is a three-year-old son of Lawyer Ron out of a Cat Thief mare (Steal the Show), trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Patrick Husbands.

Prior to the race, 1-Patrioticandproud and 6-Prospective scratched out of the field.

Below are the results and dpayouts for the Grade 3 Ontario Derby:

WIN: 7-Stealcase ($6.20, $3.30, $2.50)
PLACE: 9-Any Given Royal ($4.30, $2.80)
SHOW: 2-River Rush ($3.00)

$1.00 EXACTA: $11.80
$1.00 TRIFECTA: $30.65
$0.20 SUPERFECTA: $22.41
$0.20 PICK 3: $127.60
$0.20 PICK 4: $3,759.02

For more on the Ontario Derby and other races at Woodbine, check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

2012 Woodbine Mile And Undercard: Race Schedule, Post Times, Video And More

A field of nine horses will contest today's Grade 1 Woodbine Mile looking for a share of the $1 million purse and a spot in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita Park. Today's races at Woodbine will be broadcast by TVG and through a live on-line stream at Woodbine's website. The Sunday card kicks off at 1:05pm Eastern.

Woodbine Scratches & Changes

Grade 2 Canadian Stakes
1 1/8 Miles, Turf
Three-years-old and up, Fillies & Mares
Purse: $300,000
Post time: 3:05pm Eastern

Grade 3 Ontario Derby
1 1/8 Miles, Polytrack
Three-year-olds
Purse: $150,000
Post time: 4:04pm Eastern

Grade 1 Northern Dancer
1 1/2 Miles, Turf
Three-years-old and up
Purse: $500,000
Post time: 4:37pm Eastern

Grade 1 Woodbine Mile
One Mile, Turf
Three-years-old and up
Purse: $1,000,000
Post time: 5:42pm Eastern

2012 Breeders' Cup Berths On The Line At Woodbine

A preview of the graded stakes races at Woodbine in Canada on Saturday, September 15th and Sunday, September, 16th, including the Woodbine Mile, Natalma Stakes and Summer Stakes -- in which the winner receives an automatic place in the 2012 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita.