Grade 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile probable starters released
TORONTO, September 5, 2024 – Woodbine Entertainment today released the list of probable starters for the Grade 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile on Saturday, September 14 at Woodbine Racetrack.
The $1 million Rogers Woodbine Mile headlines Turf Champions Day, an all-star afternoon of racing that features four Grade 1 races on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course and a total of six Graded Stakes on the card.
In addition to the Rogers Woodbine Mile, the $750,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (Fillies & Mares), $500,000 bet365 Summer Stakes (Two-Year-Olds) and $500,000 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes (Two-Year-Old Fillies) are all Grade 1 events.
The Rogers Woodbine Mile, bet365 Summer Stakes and Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes are all Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” events.
Below is the list of probable starters for the $1 million Grade 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile.
(Horse-Trainer-Jockey)
Big Rock (FR) – Maurizio Guarnieri – Umberto Rispoli
Cruden Bay – Don MacRae – Sofia Vives
Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) – Mark Casse – Kazushi Kimura
My Boy Prince – Mark Casse – Sahin Civaci
Naval Power (GB) – Charles Appleby – William Buick
Niagara Skyline – John Charalambous – Rafael Hernandez
Playmea Tune – Josie Carroll – John Velazquez
Secret Reserve – Michael Mattine – Leo Salles
Win for the Money – Mark Casse – Patrick Husbands
Godolphin, Charles Appleby and William Buick are expected to team with Naval Power (GB) in search of a third consecutive victory in the Woodbine Mile. The well-accomplished group won last year with Master of The Seas (IRE) and in 2022 with Modern Games (IRE).
A four-year-old son of Teofilo (IRE), Naval Power (GB) last raced on May 4 at Churchill Downs, running second in the Grade 1 Turf Classic Stakes. It was his second straight runner-up in a Grade 1 since coming to North America.
Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse is expected to send out three starters in the Rogers Woodbine Mile, including King’s Plate runner-up My Boy Prince.
The lone three-year-old expected to compete, My Boy Prince has extensive history on the turf, including a runner-up finish in last year’s Grade 1 bet365 Summer Stakes and a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. The son of Cairo Prince does have a stake win on turf (last year’s Cup and Saucer Stakes at Woodbine) and could be an intriguing entrant in this year’s Mile.
Filo Di Arianna (BRZ), a multiple Sovereign Award winner, is riding a two-race win streak, with back-to-back scores in the Grade 2 Highlander and Grade 2 King Edward at Woodbine. The Casse eight-year-old is a nine-time winner and is six for seven lifetime at Woodbine, including a perfect four for four in stakes at the Toronto racetrack.
The third Casse trainee likely to run is Win for the Money. The five-year-old gelding last ran second in a stakes event on the turf at Ellis Park on August 3. A four-time winner from 15 lifetime starts, Win for the Money’s lone victory this season was a blowout win in the Mr. Steele Stakes (May 25) on the turf at Gulfstream Park.
Big Rock (FR) is expected to add more European flavour to the Rogers Woodbine Mile. Big Rock (FR) won the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the richest mile race in Europe, last October at Royal Ascot. Now trained by Maurizio Guarnieri, the four-year-old is winless in four Group 1 races this season and would be making his North America debut in the Mile.
Cruden Bay for trainer Don MacRae has won two of three starts this season, including a memorable victory in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup on July 20 at Woodbine. The six-year-old gelding last ran fifth in the Grade 2 King Edward on August 23.
John Charalambous trainee Niagara Skyline won his most recent start, posting a strong victory in Allowance event on July 28 at Woodbine. The six-year-old gelding is a six-time winner from 24 career starts, including five wins on the turf.
Playmea Tune is the lightest raced horse of the nine probable starters. The four-year-old gelding won his career debut earlier this season on May 24 before a follow-up victory on July 7. The Josie Carroll trainee most recently turned in a strong late rally to finish a narrow second in the Grade 3 Bold Venture on August 23.
Secret Reserve finished third in the Grade 2 King Edward on August 23. The Michael Mattine trained six-year-old has six wins and 15 top-three finishes from 26 career starts.
Final entries for the Grade 1 Rogers Woodbine Mile close Wednesday (September 11).
For the latest news and information on live racing at Woodbine, visit Woodbine.com or follow @WoodbineTB and @WoodbineComms on X.
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Mark McKelvie