Wise Dan among 31 nominated to Woodbine Mile

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Two-time Woodbine Mile winner Wise Dan heads the list of 31 nominees for this year’s edition of the Grade 1 turf event on Sept. 13.

Wise Dan is scheduled to make his first start in nearly a year in the 19th running of the $1 million fixture. He was sidelined with a non-displaced fracture of his fetlock, which was discovered following a victory in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland last October.

“Things are looking very positive,” said trainer Charlie LoPresti, who has won the Woodbine Mile three times. “He’s been working pretty steady if you follow his work tab. We’ve been monitoring the progress of his ankle, and the radiographs all look good.”

Qatar Racing won last year’s Woodbine Mile with the European raider Trade Storm. This year, it nominated three European runners: Arod, Lightning Spear and Mr. Owen.

Some other accomplished American runners are nominated, including Lea, Mshawish, Reload and Seek Again.
Trainer Brian Lynch is running Grand Arch, who’s exiting a win in the Grade 2 Fourstardave at Saratoga. He also nominated the speedy Heart to Heart.

The local contingent is headed by Reporting Star and Tower of Texas, who ran one-two in the Grade 2 Play the King, and Kaigun, who rallied for second in last year’s renewal, finishing a half-length behind Trade Storm.

The Woodbine Mile heads a spectacular card which includes three other stakes: the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf, the Grade 2 Canadian, and the Grade 3 Bold Venture.