World Approval gets an easy win in the Woodbine Mile
World Approval assured himself a spot in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Mile when he dominated a deep field of twelve in the $800,000 grade one Woodbine Mile at Woodbine in Toronto, Canada.
Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez got the mount on the 2.35-1 favorite and gave him a perfect ride, and in doing so won this race for the fifth time in his career. Johnny V. was victorious in 2012 and 2013, with the Wise Dan and they went on to take the Breeders’ Cup Mile in both of those years and clinched Eclipse Awards. Trainer Mark Casse won the Woodbine Mile last year with Tepin, who went on to win the Eclipse Award as Top Turf Female.
The Woodbine Mile is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, which gives World Approval a ‘Win and You’re In’ spot in the Mile at Del Mar on November 4. The Live Oak Plantation runner won his second grade one race in a row and his fourth race in five starts. With his victory in the Fourstardave at Saratoga this summer, the home bred son of Northern Afleet is now a perfect two for two going a mile on the turf.
“He’s a very, very, nice horse,” said Velazquez. “I tell you that and maybe they found out the distance he wants to do.”
Velazquez took advantage of the number one post position as he made sure that World Approval broke alertly and they secured their position on the rail while initially racing on the lead. Longshot Dragon Bay (60-1) went after the favorite and was able to get a narrow lead while racing just to his outside. European Deauville ran close to those two in the three-path, while Conquest Panthera was right there also, widest of all.
Those four raced as a quartet spread across the track for close to three-quarters of mile that was run in honest fractions of 23.77, 46.45, and 1:10.31. All the while Velazquez had World Approval running very comfortably, saving all the ground.
“I wasn’t sure who the speed would be,” added Velazquez. “He’s always been pretty close to the pace, not on the lead, but pretty close. He broke well today, no one seemed to want the lead.”
When he asked the grey gelding for more, the race was over, as the five-year-old opened a lead and drew off to win by a very impressive 2 ½ -length margin in a final time of 1:33.05.
Johnny V. described the trip, “He was going so well the whole way around, I was just hoping that when we switched down the lane and I asked him that he would respond and that’s exactly what he did. As soon as we switched, I let him know he should go and he was ready. I just kind of left him there and he held on very well.”
World Approval was the only one of the pace setters to be around at the end of the race. Lancaster Bomber closed down the middle of the track to get second place with Long On Value coming on to finish third. The winner paid $6.60, 3.90, and 3.00 across the board. The $2 exacta returned $42 and the $2 trifecta was worth $398.40.
With career stats of 23: 10-2-4 and earnings of $1,887,363, World Approval has stepped up to lead the American turf horses against some of Europe’s best milers in the Breeders’ Cup.
“As long as he's healthy, we are going to the Breeders' Cup,” said Casse. “Am I confident we can win? I don't think I would change places with anybody.”