Betting the Woodbine Mile on a $20 Budget

Obviously (above) is one of the most accomplished runners entered in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes on Sunday and also looks like the most likely pacesetter in the race. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
As always, the $1-million Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes has drawn a very deep and talented field. If you can’t make it to Woodbine in Toronto for the race, you can still watch on Fox Sports 1 as part of The Jockey Club Tour and bet the race from home or at your local track. Given the depth of the field and how hard it is to separate these horses from a handicapping perspective, this is definitely a race you’ll want to bet.
With the defection of fan favorite Wise Dan, due to injury, earlier this week, all of the attention in the Woodbine Mile (#WoMile — check out that hashtag on Twitter for updates on the race and related festivities) has shifted to Obviously.
Trained by Phil D'Amato for Anthony Fanticola and Joseph Scardino, Obviously will be making his first start since finishing fifth in last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Obviously is a known speedster and figures to be able to establish a loose lead from the inside post. He not only has a pace advantage over his foes but also a class advantage, having won seven graded stakes. He’s earned $1,412,361, which is second in the field to Bill Mott trainee Lea ($2,031,618), who has earned most of his earnings on dirt. This race, of course, is on the Woodbine turf course and because of that I plan on betting against Lea, especially at a short price.
LEA WINNING A GRADE 1 ON DIRT IN 2014

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Another horse very likely to take a lot of money is Jim and Susan Hill’s Grand Arch. A 6-year-old Arch gelding trained by Brian Lynch, Grand Arch comes into the Woodbine Mile off of an impressive score in the Grade 2 Fourstardave Handicap. In that race, Grand Arch rated off the pace and showed a really sharp turn of foot in the stretch. He then held off Ironicus, who came back to win the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Stakes on Aug. 7. Despite finishing fifth in the 2014 Woodbine Mile, Grand Arch must be given serious consideration this year, factoring in his most recent effort.
Speaking of last year’s Woodbine Mile, the horse who went into that race as a 5-to-2 morning line favorite, Kaigun, comes into this year’s running of the race as a 20-to-1 longshot. Kaigun has finished no better than third in three starts this year. However, he still rates an upset glance given the fact that he loves this course — he’s never finished out of the money in five career starts — and how close he came to winning this race last year when he finished second by a half-length to Trade Storm.
Finally, you’ve got to take a look at the two European shippers, Mondialiste from England and Mr. Owen from France. Mondialiste figures to take a little more money, but I actually prefer Mr. Owen. He looks like a horse who will relish the long stretch at Woodbine. He comes in off of a stakes score, in which he was checked late and still overcame a massive deficit to catch the leader late. I have to believe he’ll be a factor.
Ultimately, my selections and bets on a $20 budget are as follows:
Selections: #1 Obviously - #8 Mr. Owen - #9 Kaigun - #2 Grand Arch
Betting Strategy
$1 trifecta: 1 with 2,8,9,11 with 2,8,9,11 ($12 total)
$.20 superfecta: 1,8,9 with 1,8,9 with 1,2,8,9,11 with 1,2,8,9,11 ($7.20)
Total = $19.20
$1-million Ricoh Woodbine Mile StakesSunday, Woodbine, Race 10, 5:45 p.m. ET1 mile, turf, 3-year-olds and olderTV: Watch The Jockey Club Tour on Fox Sports 1 Sunday from 4:30-6 p.m. ET

PP

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

Owners

Odds

1

Obviously

Joseph Talamo

Phil D'Amato

Anthony Fanticola and Joseph Scardino

3-1

2

Grand Arch

Luis Saez

Brian Lynch

Jim and Susan Hill

6-1

3

Platinum Glory

Jesse M. Campbell

Michael De Paulo

John Di Scola

30-1

4

Za Approval

David Moran

Mark Casse

Live Oak Plantation

20-1

5

Turncoat

Omar Moreno

Laurie Silvera

Irish Wisky Racing

30-1

6

Tower of Texas

Eurico Rosa Da Silva

Roger Attfield

Thomas F. Van Meter II and Scott Dilworth

12-1

7

Mondialiste

Fergal Lynch

David O'Meara

Geoff and Sandra Turnbull

9-2

8

Mr. Owen

Umberto Rispoli

Francois Rohaut

Qatar Racing Limited

8-1

9

Kaigun

Patrick Husbands

Mark Casse

G. Barber, Quintessential Racing Florida LLC & Horse'n Around Racing Stable

20-1

10

Lea

Joel Rosario

Bill Mott

Adele B. Dilschneider & Claiborne Farm

5-2

11

Reporting Star

Luis Contreras

Jim Ensom

Copper Water Thoroughbred Company Ltd.

15-1