Photo Essay: Ventura Victorious in the Woodbine Mile

Sunday was a fantastic day for racing at Woodbine. There were three first-class turf events including the Canadian Stakes, Northern Dancer Stakes and the million-dollar Woodbine mile.

A successful soccer commitment prevented me from attending the G2 Canadian Stakes live, but I can report that Princess Haya won a dramatic race in a photo finish defeating the highly regarded Forever Together.

Watch the video of the Canadian Stakes


I arrived on track in time for the Northern Dancer Stakes and immediately went to work with the camera. What follows is a photo essay of the latter two Stakes events of the day including a mini write-up and some interesting words from jockey Garrett Gomez.

(As always, you can enlarge the image by double-left clicking on the image. To return to the blog, click on your "Back" button.)

It was hot and sunny this day and there was barely a cloud in the sky which made good weather for photographers. With Musketier scratched, nine excellent horses paraded about the paddock for what would be a torrid event.

A curious Quijano sneaks a peak


Chantal finds a shady spot to wait for Solitaire


The handsome Cobotown Ron


Just As Well looking well ready to race


Marsh Side makes his way around the walking ring


Champs Elysees prepares in the paddock


Medjool pokes a little fun at the guy with the camera


Marlang struts his stuff


A focused Javier Castellano will not be happy with the results


Garrett Gomez and Champs Elysees who appears to be checking out the tote board


Julien Leparoux and Just As Well on their way to the gate


Patrick Husbands sits tall aboard Marchfield


And they're off in the Northern Dancer!


Watch the video of the Northern Dancer Stakes


Marsh Side hits the wire first, but it won't last. Check out Champs Elysees being checked in traffic.


TVG was on-track trying to sort out the inquiry drama


After fifteen minutes of deliberation, Marsh Side was tossed back to fourth and Just as Well won the floral blanket. Quijano and Champs Elysees picked up the pieces. Gomez would later say he felt he would have won were he not impeded. Being blocked on the inside may have something to do with a judgment call Gomez makes later in the card.



Just as Well found the whole inquiry debate to be very amusing


Ten horses were on hand to try their luck in the million-dollar Woodbine Mile. Defending champion Rahy's Attorney would be taking on last year's second place finisher Ventura as well as a solid group of shippers including Ferneley, Bribon and Daylight Express.

The amateur photographer proves his own status by working his own shadow into this shot of Ferneley. Ooops.


The speedy Field Commission had a late jockey switch from Leparoux to Rob Landry due to a paperwork issue.


Daylight Express passes in front of the paddock which is guarded by the statue of jockey Avelino Gomez


Ex-claimer Jungle Wave would try to stake his claim to fame


A tartan-clad Rafael MacBejerano


From Barbados to Woodbine - Andy Ward


The famous white face of Ventura


No tongue strap required for Sand Cove


Husbands, cool as can be, aboard Sterwins


Alan Garcia in town to ride G1 winner Bribon


Daylight Express and Andy Ward on post parade


Defending champions Rahy's Attorney and Slade Callaghan


A worked up Ventura gets excited over the announcement on the Woodbine tote board


Watch the video of the Woodbine Mile


Out of the gate it was a frenetic pace as Grand Adventure led the field to a half in 46 flat. Rahy's Attorney loomed on Grand Adventure's flank with Jungle Wave pressuring just to his outside. Three quarters arrived in a fast 1:09 which would prove to be far too much for Grand Adventure and Rahy's Attorney on this day. Turning into the stretch, the field bunched up with the exception of the patient Gomez aboard Ventura who was waiting for his moment. The moment arrived half-way through the stretch as track announcer Dan Loiselle bellowed, "Ventura, like a bullet from a gun, sweeps to the lead." Ventura passed Ferneley with ease though that one held on for second. Sterwins arrived a late-charging third for Patrick Husbands while the brave Jungle Wave survived the early pace to finish fourth.

Up in the press box following the race, Gomez elaborated on Ventura's great win.

With regard to the late charge from the back...

GG: She'll pull a prank every now and then when I make a move too early and it's probably cost her nearly a million dollars in purses.

Making the decision to rally on the outside...

GG: My thing was just to not make the lead so early and ride her the way I normally would. When I wheeled out, the horse from Barbados (Daylight Express) was stopping and I was inside of him turning for home. The only real decision I had to make with her was to go inside that horse or go around that horse.

(Gomez made the decision to go outside, avoided any potential traffic, and had plenty of horse for the win.)

Upon being asked about the incident in the Northern Dancer and how he felt about his chances with Champs Elysees...

GG: I was going to win. He's the kind of horse that the more you ask, the more he gives. Even when we got to the wire, he was coming again and I still hadn't asked him yet.

Less than ten lengths cover the field just yards from the wire


A streaking Ventura legs it out to defeat Ferneley


The next group of horses hit the wire together in a pack


The assembled media clamor over marvelous mare Ventura


Garrett Gomez is proud of his speedy mare who despite capturing a Win & You're In event on the grass will instead try to defend her crown in the Filly & Mare Sprint



It was yet another fantastic day of racing on the best turf course in North America. If anyone has requests for photos from the weekend, including Saturday's card, please feel free to leave a comment or email me directly.