Eleven listed as likely for Woodbine Mile

Last updated: 9/12/11 6:57 PM

Courageous Cat will try to stay perfect in 2011

(Benoit Photos)

Shoemaker Mile (G1) winner COURAGEOUS CAT (Storm Cat) is among 11 probables

for Sunday's C$1 million Woodbine Mile (Can-G1). As of Monday, his prospective

rivals include defending champion COURT VISION (Gulch), winless since his

triumph at Woodbine last year; Bernard Baruch H. (G2) hero TURALLURE (Wando);

Jaipur S. (G3) victor RIGHT ONE (Fr) (Anabaa); and the progressive English

shipper SIDE GLANCE (GB) (Passing Glance).

Likely favorite Courageous Cat represents Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who

won the inaugural Woodbine Mile in 1997 with an 8-1 outsider named Geri. A

homebred campaigned by Pam and Martin Wygod, Courageous Cat has started just 13

times in his career, but has won six of them. The lightly-raced five-year-old is

two-for-two this season, taking the June 10 Poker S. (G3) at Belmont Park by 2

1/4 lengths, and the July 2 Shoemaker at Hollywood Park by a neck, both at one

mile.

"There's nothing not to like about them," Mott said of the winning efforts.

"They were both good races. The Poker was very good, and he came back on short

rest and ran very well in the Shoemaker (beating Caracortado [Cat Dreams]). He

held him safe. It looked they could have gone around again and he would have

still won.

"As of right now, we're happy with the progress he's made since, so we're

cautiously optimistic. We've got to hope that things stay good for another

week."

Courageous Cat put the finishing touches on his preparation by breezing five

furlongs in a bullet :59 4/5 over Saratoga's firm Oklahoma training turf on

Sunday. He will be ridden by veteran Pat Valenzuela, who won the 2006 Woodbine

Mile aboard Becrux (Ity).

Right One, third to Courageous Cat in the Poker two starts back, has been

freshened since his score in the July 16 Jaipur. Trained by Christophe Clement,

he will not be joined by his illustrious stablemate, two-time turf champion Gio

Ponti (Tale of the Cat), who had likewise been considered for the Woodbine

prize.

Court Vision would be making his first start for new connections. Since his

fourth-place effort in the June 18 Colonial Turf Cup, the royally-bred

six-year-old was purchased privately by Spendthrift Farm and transferred to the

barn of Dale Romans. He was previously trained by Rick Dutrow for IEAH Stables,

Golden Goose Enterprises, Resolute Group Stables and WinStar Farm.

Right One is owned by Ghislaine Head of the prominent French racing family

(Ross Woodson/Horsephotos.com)

At least one of his human associations will be familiar. Court Vision will

reunite with Robby Albarado, who engineered his 2010 Woodbine Mile victory.

The Andrew Balding-trained Side Glance has earned his way into Grade 1

company after a productive summer in England. The former handicapper comes off

his first career Group victory in the August 11 Sovereign S. (Eng-G3) at

Salisbury, defeating fellow social climber DANCE AND DANCE (Royal Applause [GB])

by a neck.

Dance and Dance's trainer, Ed Vaughan, believes that the improving gelding

can turn the tables on a more conventional track.

"It was a very undulating track," Vaughan said of Salisbury. "You've never

seen anything like it. It's up and down and in and out, and he was very

unbalanced on it the whole way around. As soon as he met the rising ground in

the final furlong, he took off and he flew home. If it had been further, he

would have beaten Side Glance."

Vaughn also commented on Dance and Dance's upward mobility.

"It took him five attempts to eventually break his maiden," Vaughan said.

"He's just progressed a little bit each year, but we've had a bigger jump up the

ratings this year and he's really come to the fore.

"I think it's a physical thing," he observed. "He looks great physically this

year, stronger than he ever has. And yet, strangely enough, he'll be the

smallest horse in the field, there's no doubt about that. He's a very small,

little horse but he's toned up and really strong and he's holding his condition

really well."

Dance and Dance looked poised to land the competitive Royal Hunt Cup heritage

handicap at Royal Ascot on June 15, but got caught in a mosh pit.

"He just got bulldozed out of the way," Vaughan said. "He should have gotten

the stewards' ruling, he was beaten a half-length and it cost him his momentum

and he switched gears. He is the moral winner."

The formerly British-based FORTEI DEI MARMI (GB) (Selkirk) will make his

debut for Canadian Hall of Famer Roger Attfield, who will also send out

HOLLINGER (Black Minnaloushe).

Hollinger ranked as Canada's champion two-year-old male following a perfect

season in 2009, but he has not won since. Attfield believes that he could be

sitting on a breakthrough.

"He was a champion two-year-old, but he didn't train on as a three-year-old

as he had some physical issues," Attfield said. "He had a back issue that needed

a lot of time, so we just gave him the rest of the three-year-old year off."

Wigmore Hall, shown prior to his fourth in the Arlington Million, will try 1 1/2 miles in the Northern Dancer

(Four Footed Fotos)

After four starts on the comeback trail this year, Hollinger is showing signs

of his former brilliance.

"He's training super now," Attfield said. "He's doing as well as he's ever

done, actually. Whether or not he can step up into that kind of competition

we'll find out, but I don't think he's ever been better."

Attfield is encouraged by Hollinger's strong six-furlong work over the

Woodbine training turf Sunday under jockey Tyler Pizarro in 1:12.

"He worked very, very well and finished strong," Attfield said. "It was a

good work. Tyler was very happy with him."

The remaining three Woodbine Mile contenders are also locally-based:

WOODBOURNE (Danzig) and GRAND ADVENTURE (Grand Slam), the respective third and

eight-place finishers in last year's running, and RIDING THE RIVER (Wiseman's

Ferry).

The post position draw, scheduled for Thursday at noon (EDT), will be

streamed live at the special

Woodbine Mile microsite.

James Reimer, the outstanding second-year goaltender for the NHL's Toronto Maple

Leafs, will be the drawmaster.

Sunday's other Grade 1 event, the 1 1/2-mile Northern Dancer Turf S., is

expected to attract a field of 10: AL KHALI (Medaglia d'Oro), BOURBON BAY (Sligo

Bay [Ire]), HAILSTONE (City Zip), HOTEP (A.P. Indy), KARA'S ORIENTATION

(Orientate), LAUREATE CONDUCTOR (Bernstein), MUSKETIER (Ger) (Acatenango),

SEASIDE RETREAT (King Cugat), SIMMARD (Dixieland Band) and the globetrotting

WIGMORE HALL (Ire) (High Chaparral [Ire]).

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