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.
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