How to bet With, and Against, Master of the Seas in the Woodbine Mile

The five-year-old has been an outstanding performer from the word go, and he has done a lot of his best work at the distance as well with a 7-3-2-1 line at eight furlongs, too. This Godolphin homebred rarely runs a subpar race and will be a difficult one to knock off on Saturday with William Buick coming in to guide the imposing morning-line choice.

If the pace of the race is honest, which is more than possible, then #4 Ice Chocolat (9-2) might benefit most of all for conditioner Mark Casse. The five-year-old is not a win machine, but he is consistently good and comes off a pair of nice closing runs at Saratoga against top competition as of late. The Goldikovic gelding has won or placed in five of his six career tries locally and is three of four at the distance, and the dark bay brings solid form to the event with Joel Rosario retaining the mount.

Grade 1 winner #3 Shirl’s Speight (5-2) is not a huge fan of Woodbine but will run big in a second run following a very good try in the Dubai Turf (G1) two prior. The Roger Attfield pupil, who finished an excellent runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) in his 2022 finale, is capable of running huge on his best day and shows a trio of excellent morning moves leading up to Saturday, as well. The six-year-old son of Speightstown will be doing his best work inside the final furlong under the guidance of John Velazquez.