Tepin ideally drawn in post 8 for Woodbine Mile

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The popular champion Tepin drew the outside post 8 and has been pegged as the 1-2 favorite under Julien Leparoux in the 20th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile on Saturday.

Tepin is riding the wave of a seven-race win streak. She beat the boys in last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile and in her last outing in June, in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Norm Casse, assistant to trainer Mark Casse, said an outside post is ideal for Tepin, but he noted that she has won from the one-hole before.

“She’s drawn outside and can watch everything unfold,” Norm Casse said. “I prefer that. She makes everything easy. She’s so professional.”

Mutakayyef, a Group 2 winner in England, is the clear second choice at 7-2 and will start from post 2. Since being gelded last winter, the 5-year-old Mutakayyef has been a vastly improved runner. He was arguably best when a troubled third behind the accomplished Postponed and Highland Reel in the Group 1 Juddmonte International on Aug. 17 at York.

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Arod, another English runner, is the 10-1 third choice, starting from post 3. He is winless in four starts this year, but is exiting an improved third in the Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

Full Mast, a U.S. shipper, is 10-1. He was a troubled fourth as the favorite in the Grade 2 King Edward here July 2 for trainer Bill Mott, who won the inaugural Woodbine Mile with Geri. Full Mast drew post 5.

Off a second in a Group 3 fixture, the French runner Mr. Owen is 15-1. On yielding ground, he finished a non-threatening sixth in last year’s Woodbine Mile. He has post 7.

Rounding out the field are the locals Glenville Gardens (20-1, post 4), Passion for Action (20-1, post 6), and Tower of Texas (20-1, post 1).

The spectacular Woodbine Mile card also features the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf, the Grade 2 Canadian, and the Grade 3 Ontario Derby.