Kip Deville heads field of 8 in Mile

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Kip Deville, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Mile, will be the 124-pound highweight and has been made the 6-5 choice for Sunday's 12th running of the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.

A field of eight was announced for the Woodbine Mile, a turf race for 3-year-olds and upward that offers a purse of $1 million, at the ceremonial draw in the trackside tent here Thursday.

Kip Deville, a 5-year-old horse who was the runner-up in last year's Woodbine Mile for New York-based trainer Rick Dutrow and jockey Cornelio Velasquez after breaking from post 5, drew post 4 for Sunday's renewal.

Dutrow also sent out Rebel Rebel to finish second in the 2006 Woodbine Mile.

Ventura, a 4-year-old filly trained by Bobby Frankel, will carry 121 pounds and begin from post 8 as the 4-1 second choice on Woodbine oddsmaker Jennifer Morrison's morning line.

Garrett Gomez, who has ridden Ventura to 3 victories in her 5 starts this season, will be looking to double up in the Woodbine Mile after guiding Shakespeare to victory last year.

Frankel won the 2005 Woodbine Mile with Leroidesanimaux and the 2000 edition with Riviera.

Just Rushing, winner of the Grade 2 Play the King over seven furlongs of turf here Aug. 23, is next in the line at 5-1 and will start from post 3 under Woodbine's leading rider Jim McAleney.

"His post is okay," said Sid Attard, who won the 2001 Woodbine Mile with Numerous Times and trains Just Rushing for the Tucci Stable of Carlo and Lou Tucci. "It doesn't look like there's much speed; he'll probably be in front. He's brave when he makes the lead."

Wollemi Pine, beaten a length as the Play the King runner-up, has been pegged as the 6-1 fourth choice and drew post 5.

Trainer Ian Black and jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson, who teamed up to win last year's Queen's Plate with Mike Fox, will be looking for a second seven-figure score with Wollemi Pine.

Black also will send out Rahy's Attorney, who is 12-1 on the morning line and will be ridden by Slade Callaghan. Rahy's Attorney won the Grade 3 Connaught Cup over 1 1/16 miles of turf here this spring.

Rounding out the field will be locally based Mulmur (10-1), Ice Bear (15-1), and Palladio (20-1).

Sunday's blockbuster program also will include the Grade 1, $750,000 Northern Dancer, a 1 1/2-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and upward, and the Grade 2 Canadian, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares.