How to bet the 2020 Woodbine Mile

With a $1 million purse and a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on the line, Saturday’s Woodbine Mile (G1) has attracted an elite field.

Favoritism could fall on #8 War of Will (2-1), a versatile son of War Front conditioned by Woodbine’s leading trainer, Mark Casse. The winner of the 2019 Preakness (G1) on dirt, War of Will has enjoyed a switch to turf this season and enters the Woodbine Mile off a pace-tracking triumph in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) at Keeneland.

But War of Will hasn’t been a frequent winner, and the form of his Maker’s Mark Mile victory took a hit when Parlor, Raging Bull, and Without Parole (who finished second, third, and fourth in a crowded finish) finished off the board in their next starts.

That's not to say War of Will can’t win on Saturday — he is certainly a logical contender — but it makes him tough to trust at a short price.

There’s plenty of speed in the Woodbine Mile, with 2019 Ontario Derby (G3) runner-up #2 Armistice Day (20-1), unbeaten 3-year-old #3 Shirl’s Speight (8-1), Grade 1-winning mare #4 Starship Jubilee (4-1), and Tampa Bay (G3) winner #6 Admiralty Pier (10-1) all likely to join War of Will with forwardly placed trips. This could lend an advantage to War of Will’s accomplished stablemate #1 March to the Arch (5-2).

An accomplished miler, March to the Arch is 2-for-2 over the Woodbine turf course, where he most recently rallied to win the Aug. 15 King Edward (G2) by 2 1/4 lengths. March to the Arch was full of run down the lane and hit the wire in 1:32.28, just 0.53 seconds off the course record set by two-time Horse of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee Wise Dan.

March to the Arch employed ground-saving tactics in the King Edward and should do the same after a break from the rail in the Woodbine Mile.

A quick pace will benefit this stretch-running 5-year-old, so let’s take a shot keying March to the Arch on top of all our tickets. If he can produce the winning rally, we’ll be rewarded with a lucrative payday.

$10 to win on #1 March to the Arch
$1 trifecta: 1 with 3,4,6,7,8 with 3,4,6,7,8 ($20)
Total: $30

Good luck!