Turallure gains Woodbine Mile crown

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Turallure, ridden by Julien Leparoux, came storming down the middle of the course to capture Sunday's $1 million Woodbine Mile at Woodbine Race Course. The four-year-old colt covered the one-turn mile in 1:34.92 on a firm E.P. Taylor turf course.

Trained by Charles Lopresti, Turallure put himself into the Breeders' Cup Mile with Sunday's victory. The race is part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" series which gives the winner automatic entry into this year's Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs in November.

Turallure was sent off at 6-1 in the 12-horse field. The gray colt was racing well off the pace that was being set by Kara's Orientation and Woodbourne. Even-money favorite Courageous Cat was running in third and moved into second along side Kara's Orientation on the turn for home.

Courageous Cat had the lead at the top of the stretch and looked to be headed to victory. Turallure came charging down the stretch on the outside and caught the leader just before the wire.

Turallure posted a neck victory over Courageous Cat with Right One finishing third. Rounding out the order of finish was Side Glance, Riding the River, Dance And Dance, defending winner Court Vision, Hollinger, Grand Adventure, Forte Dei Marmi, Kara's Orientation and Woodbourne.

"It was good. We left from the outside, so I just took him back and saved all the ground around the turn," Leparoux said. "There was a lot of traffic, but I was able to get out and he ran great. He was big today."

Owned by Donna Arnold, Turallure gained $600,000 with the win, the largest purse of his career. In 15 starts the colt has won six times for $894,085. He was coming off a victory in the Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga.

Turallure returned $14.90, $5.90 and $4.10. Courageous Cat paid $3.10 and $2.90, and Right One paid $4.90 to show.

About an hour earlier, Wigmore Hall came from off the pace to win the $500,000 Northern Dancer Stakes at Woodbine. The European based four-year-old also won by a neck in the 1 1/2-mile grass event.

Ridden by Jamie Spencer, Wigmore Hall covered the distance in 2:30.67 in his second straight start in North America. Last month the gelding was fourth to Cape Blanco in the Arlington Million.

Wigmore Hall, trained by Michael Bell, was the 7-5 favorite in the eight-horse field. Finishing second was local runner Simmard followed by Al Khali, Laureate Conductor, Hallstone, Hotep, Seaside Retreat and 3-1 second choice Bourbon Bay.

"The boss gave him all the instructions," said assistant trainer Gillian Dolman. "Jamie knows this horse inside out. I'm glad he did find the rail."

Owned by Mark Hawtin, Wigmore Hall picked up $300,000 to boost his career earnings to more than $1.3 million. He has six wins in 18 lifetime starts.

Wigmore Hall paid $4.90, $3.20 and $2.80. Simmard returned $5.50 and $3.70, and Al Khali paid $3.50 to show.