Jack Shinar 10y

Trade Storm best in Woodbine Mile

Horse Racing

Third in last year's Ricoh Woodbine Mile behind Wise Dan, British invader Trade Storm came from off the pace to claim the top prize over Kaigun on the turf at the Toronto-area track Sept. 14.

With no Wise Dan in the lineup for the $949,461 race this time, Trade Storm gave English trainer David Simcock a sweep of the grade I grass events at Woodbine Sunday. Simcock took the Northern Dancer Turf earlier on the card with another British raider, Sheikhzayedroad.

The 6-year-old British-bred son of Trade Fair was ridden to victory in the Woodbine Mile at odds of 9-2 by Jamie Spencer for owner Qatar Racing. The bay horse was bred by G. T. Lucas out of the Slip Anchor mare Frisson.

Kaigun, who rallied on the outside of Trade Storm in deep stretch but was outrun by the winner, finished a half-length behind. Pacesetter Bobby's Kitten held on for third in the field of 11. The final time was 1:36.87 over a course rated good.

The Woodbine Mile carries an automatic fees-paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Mile Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park for Trade Storm, who is not currently nominated.

The lone European hope in this year's Woodbine Mile field, Trade Storm won for the first time in seven starts in 2014 while facing some of the best in England and Dubai, and snapped a 12-race losing streak overall. He was coming off a runner-up finish in the Betfred Strensall Stakes Aug. 23 at York. Trade Storm's previous win came in the Zabeel Mile Sponsored by Stud Estrela Energia at Meydan March 2, 2013.

With his latest victory, Trade Storm surpassed $1 million in career earnings.

Bobby's Kitten, the only 3-year-old in the field, went directly to the front for Joel Rosario, leading outsider Ancil for a half-mile through fractions of :23.97 seconds and :47.52 seconds before River Seven and Grand Arch moved into contention around the turn. Bobbie's Kitten ran six furlongs in 1:12.27 while expanding his lead to 1 ½ lengths at the quarter pole with River Seven and Grand Arch in pursuit.

As he was last year, Trade Storm was slow out of the gate from post 2 and settled into a ground-saving position while racing ninth to the quarter pole for a patient Spencer. Advancing to mid-pack in upper stretch, Spencer angled Trade Storm to the outside of Bobby's Kitten while Play the King winner Kaigun also swung into gear for Patrick Husbands.

Under urging from Spencer, Trade Storm took over from Bobby's Kitten near the sixteenth marker and held the rallying Kaigun safe in the final strides.

Kaigun finished 1 ¾ lengths clear of Bobby's Kitten, with River Seven a head behind Bobby's Kitten in fourth. Second choice Grand Arch settled for fifth, followed by Lockout, Dorsett, His Race to Win, lukewarm 7-2 favorite Jack Milton, Silver Freak, and Ancil.

Jack Milton, far back on the turn, came with a six-wide rally into the stretch but never reached contention.

Trade Storm, who clearly appreciated a little cut in the ground, collected his sixth win in 34 well-traveled starts while boosting his bankroll to $1,430,898. The winner's purse for the Woodbine Mile was $540,900.

Carrying 119 pounds, Trade Storm paid $11.10, $6.20, and $4.40 across the board. Kaigun, the 121-pound co-highweight, returned $4.80 and $3.40 and completed a $53.30 exacta. Bobby's Kitten paid $6.10 to show.

The result was another defeat for the locals in their premier race for older horses. The last locally based winner of the Woodbine Mile was Rahy's Attorney in 2008.

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