Euro import Trade Storm snags Woodbine Mile

ETOBICOKE, Ontario—Trade Storm, the lone European shipper in the field, rallied effectively after emerging from traffic to win Sunday’s Grade 1, $1,053,200 Woodbine Mile, a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In qualifier.

Trade Storm ($11.10) got a patient ride from Jamie Spencer, who bided his time along the inside at the back of the pack through the turn. After awaiting room early in the lane, Trade Storm closed between rivals in the final furlong to prevail by a half-length over a charging Kaigun.

After setting moderate fractions, Bobby’s Kitten faded to finish another 1 3/4 lengths back in third. River Seven was another head back in fourth, while the 7-2 favorite Jack Milton wound up ninth in the 11-horse field.

Over a course labeled good, the final time was 1:36.87.

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“He settled well off a strong pace,” Spencer said. “I got behind Kaigun. It was like an exercise for the horse after that. He did all the work for my horse, and I just had to get a little room early in the straight. Because the ground was on the easy side, he wasn’t as electric, with his normal turn of foot. He labored a little, then surged to the lead and then idled a little late. It may have looked like it was difficult, but it never felt like it was. A lot of horses started to struggle from a half-mile out, and my fella came good.”

It was the second Grade 1 victory on the card for trainer David Simcock, who also won the Northern Dancer Turf with Sheikhzayedroad. He said Trade Storm,, who is owned by Qatar Racing Limited, will probably start next in the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita.

“He’s in the Breeders’ Cup now. He’ll probably take his chance in that,” Simcock said. “He’ll get his fast ground, which suits, and hopefully, a strong pace. It’ll probably be a tougher race, but he’s in excellent order, and he never disgraces himself.”

Patrick Husbands said his mount, Kaigun, ran spotty.

“The horse stumbled throughout the whole backside,” Husbands said. “I was holding him together. When we swung for home, it’s like ‘How much is he going to win by?,’ but he would not run. So as [Trade Storm] came up on the inside and passed him, he decided to run.”