Woodbine Mile goes to Trade Storm

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Trade Storm made a successful return from overseas Sunday to capture the $1 million Woodbine Mile, a race he was third last year.

Won the last two years by two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, the Woodbine Mile is a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" event, giving the winning horse a spot in the Breeders' Cup Mile on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita. Trade Storm, however, is not nominated to the Mile and will have to be supplemented into the race.

Trained by David Simcock and ridden by Jamie Spencer, Trade Storm went off as the 9-2 third pick in the 11-horse field behind 7-2 co-favorites Jack Milton and Grand Arch.

Trade Storm, owned by Qatar Racing Limited, raced well off the pace in the eight-furlong stakes, saving ground along the inside. Coming off the turn for home, Trade Storm moved off the inside but encountered traffic at the top of the stretch.

Spencer was able to maneuver the 6-year-old through traffic down the stretch. Trade Storm squeezed between horses nearing the wire and registered a half- length win over early favorite Kaigun and pacesetter Bobby's Kitten.

River Seven finished fourth with Grand Arch fifth followed by Lockout, Dorsett, His Race to Win, Jack Milton, Silver Freak and Ancil.

The time for the Mile was 1:36.87 on a good turf course.

The Mile victory added $600,000 to the horse's bankroll. Trade Storm has won six of 33 career starts with five seconds and three thirds for $1,489,652.

The 6-year-old was coming off consecutive runner-up results in England.

Owner, trainer and jockey all picked up their first Woodbine Mile victory. Spencer relinquished the mount in 2013's Mile to Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens. Stevens is rehabbing after knee surgery this summer. Spencer was second with Arkadian Hero in 2000 and sixth with Dance And Dance in 2011.

Earlier on the day, Simcock saddled Sheikhzayedroad in winning Woodbine's Northern Dancer Stakes.

Trade Storm returned $11.10, $6.20 and $4.40. Kaigun paid $4.80 and $3.40, and Bobby's Kitten paid $6.10 to show.