One year ago this weekend, Live Oak Plantation's likeable World Approval (Northern Afleet) made his first Woodbine appearance in the GI Northern Dancer Turf S. over 12 furlongs, setting near-farcical fractions before just succumbing to a late rally from the now-retired The Pizza Man (English Channel). Though he had shown versatility enough to post victories at distances from 8 1/2 up to 11 panels, the 5-year-old accomplished something in his most recent appearance that he had yet to in an already-successful career, namely winning at the mile trip in the GI Fourstardave H. at Saratoga. Saturday afternoon, World Approval will be one of the favorites in the valuable GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile as he looks to give trainer Mark Casse a second consecutive win in the event following on the success of Tepin (Bernstein) in 2016.
“It looks like this race has some speed in it,” said Casse. “It looks like there's some speed in there. He just wants to kind of have something to run at. We've got a good rider, and I'm sure he'll figure it.”
Julien Leparoux takes over at the controls Saturday afternoon.
Foreign raiders scooped the Mile in 2014 and 2015, the latter renewal annexed in fine fashion by Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) before adding a runner-up effort to Tepin in that year's GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Now seven, Mondialiste looks to snap an eight-race losing streak Saturday.
Mondialiste was a good second in the 2016 G2 York S. ahead of a neck success in the GI Arlington Million, and the bay filled the same spot in this year's York S. July 29. That seemed a perfect prep for a title defense in Chicago, but connections bypassed in favor of the G3 Strensall S. back at York, but the David O'Meara trainee was no better than a distant sixth. Jose Ortiz replaces Danny Tudhope in the irons.
Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) gave a good account of himself in the 2016 Million as a 3-year-old, rounding out a 1-3 finish for his sire after winning the GI Belmont Derby. Though victorious in this year's G3 Huxley S. over an extended 10-furlong trip and despite a close third in this year's Million, Deauville may just be best at a mile and his third to Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) in this year's G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot could be construed as the single strongest piece of form in the race.
No sophomore has ever won the Mile, but a legitimate case can be made for Lancaster Bomber (War Front) here. Second to Oscar Performance (Kitten's Joy) in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita, the bay has yet to win this term despite some sneaky good efforts against some top rivals. Those include a close fourth to stablemate Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas in May and a runner-up effort in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot, one spot ahead of subsequent G1SW Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}). He was most recently sixth against elder milers in the G1 Sussex S., he may not have liked the easy conditions and can improve over a sounder surface.
The Woodbine Mile is a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
