The Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes takes place this weekend with 11 runners confirmed as entered for the Grade 1 race with a $1,000,000 prize purse for the winner.
One of the marquee races of the year, with the victor guaranteed entry into the Breeder’s Cup Mile later this year, we’ll see some of the best horses over this 1-mile distance in the world compete with each other for the big purse and the honor of going down in history.
We’ll preview the field for you and break down each runner before giving you our best free horse racing picks for the event to see if we can earn you some extra cash this weekend.
| Woodbine Mile |  |
|---|---|
| Mighty Heart | +2000 |
| Ivar | +400 |
| Wakanaka | +1000 |
| Finest Sound | +1000 |
| Modern Games | +140 |
| Shirl's Speight | +1200 |
| Homer Screen | +1000 |
| Get Smokin | +1000 |
| War Bomber | +2000 |
| Town Cruise | +2000 |
| March to the Arch | +1200 |
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Mighty Heart stole the hearts of many race fans when the one-eyed runner won the Queen’s Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes in 2020 before falling just short of the Canadian Triple Crown at the Breeders’ Cup.
It’s going to be hard to back him though, because he’s winless in four starts in 2022, and he’s finished in fifth or worse in each of his last three starts on grass. His jockey, Justin Stein, has had success in this race before back in 2020, but he would need a miracle to be able to get a win again on this horse this year.
Horse racing picks – AVOID
Ivar finished third in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup, an improvement from his fourth-place finish in the same race in 2020.
Despite suffering from injuries since coming to the US in May 2020, he has made nine starts and created a reputation that sees him as a potential winner of this race.
Trainer Paulo Lobo will no doubt ensure he’s in tip-top condition to give him the best chance of winning, and if he runs to his best, he is definitely a real contender for taking the prize money.
Check out our review for BetUS sports betting here.
Wakanaka could be a surprise contender for the win here.
Trainer Bill Mott won this race in 1997, and owners Team Valor and Gary Barber won it in 2006, so there is an experience on her side, but it feels like the level may be too high for her on this occasion.
Her preference to stick with the pack before trying to pull away late could see her struggle in a field with so many top horses, but don’t be shocked if she’s in the conversation towards the end of the run.
Horse racing picks – AVOID
Finest Sound is a fine horse with good speed and a consistent record, but he’s never won a career stakes race and that is highly unlikely to change here.
He has finished in the top three in 15 of 20-lifetime races, including coming in 2nd place last month in his last outing. Without that top-level experience of getting over the line first, it’s impossible to back him in such a stacked race.
Horse racing picks – AVOID
My favorite to win this race comes from the Godolphin camp, as Modern Games looks to make a name for himself Stateside.
He won the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains in June and then finished as runner-up to the unbeaten Baaeed in the Qatar Sussex Stakes in July, showing the level he is capable of running at.
Ridden by William Buick, this whole crew will be looking for their first success in the Woodbine Mile, and Modern Games is the perfect horse to get it done. Expect a strong run throughout and a top-three finish as a minimum.
Speight enters the race off a fifth-place finish and his last three races have been a shadow of the level we know the horse can run at.
At five years old maybe he’s coming to the end of his run, but he would need a huge turnaround in performance to be anywhere near the top end of the run here, so steer clear of backing him.
Horse racing picks – AVOID
Homer Screen has struggled with the firmer turf down in California after a dominant run in his native Brazil, but this race could be a way of helping him unlock some of that potential again up in Canada.
A long shot? Definitely. But coming from a trainer that has won this race three times, there may be some value in backing him for a podium finish on the ground that suits him more and his experience at high-level winning races.
Check out our review for BetOnline sports betting here.
The final four runners don’t have much hope in this race either when it comes to actually winning it, but they’re worth a mention because if they’re running they could win.
Get Smokin is likely to be one of the pace-setters of the race, but after going winless in five races this season he’s unlikely to be able to hold out for the finish come to the end of the mile.
War Bomber is a talented four-year-old entering his peak, but this is a big step up in class for him. He usually pushes the pace, but against other top horses who will have a similar strategy, he’s likely to just fall away down the pecking order unless jockey Sahin Civachi tries something new.
Town Cruise was impressive last year and peaked perfectly to actually win this race in 2021. But since then, we’ve seen him struggle to recapture that form and most recently finished fifth in the King Edward stakes.
He’s obviously capable, but while he’ll show the promise he’ll likely falter as we hit the business end of the race, and anything in the top half of the field will be a positive result for him.
As for March to the Arch, a seven-year-old is simply not winning this race. He hasn’t won in 2022, and even at the peak of his race career, he wasn’t fast enough to win this one, so it’s a stretch to see him doing it this year.
About the Author
Daniel is a football writer who has a great thirst for the Premier League and other major European leagues. A lover of the beautiful game and a firm believer that the eye test is better than statistics. Also an avid MMA fan.
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