Woodbine Mile: Rahy's Attorney Looks To Defend His Title

Score it "one all" in the Woodbine Win and You're In weekend where Woodbine talent is taking on all comers from across North America and overseas.

In the G3 Natalma Stakes, Brian Lynch trained Bay to Bay was an impressive winner defeating another Woodbine-based horse in Steve Asmussen's Jungle Tale. Jockey David Clark worked hard down the lane for the win. Odd-on favourite Elusive Galaxy (IRE), just arrived from Leopardstown, was in front early but faded deep in the stretch for jockey Rafael Bejerano.

In the G3 Summer Stakes, speedy invader Bridgetown stalked the early pace under a beautiful ride by Woodbine-based jockey Rob Landry before surging to the lead in the stretch to win handily. Becky's Kitten and Fantastico Roberto were flying late to pick up the pieces under jockeys Julien Leparoux and Chris DeCarlo.

Jockey Rob Landry gave Bridgetown a dynamite ride to win the Summer Stakes


A determined Bay To Bay fought off Jungle Tale to win the Natalma Stakes


Considering the ride by Landry, a biased Triple Dead Heat says this tie goes to Woodbine.

Sunday's Woodbine card features three top turf events including the Canadian Stakes where Forever Together is preparing for the Breeders' Cup; the Northern Dancer stakes where Marchfield and Champs Elysees will battle a tough group of turfers; and the feature million-dollar Woodbine Mile which will see Rahy's Attorney defend his crown against Ventura and Ferneley.

Picks for the Woodbine Mile:

1. Rahy's Attorney
Last out Rahy's Attorney reached above and beyond his comfort zone stretching out to a mile and three eighths on a course he didn't handle on the day. This afternoon, Rahy's Attorney cuts back to his preferred mile distance and looks sharp off a pair of fast four furlong flings. Jockey Slade Callaghan has the chore of wearing down the other speed along the backstretch, while maintaining enough gas to hold off Ventura late.

2. Ventura
The five-year-old mare tried but failed to catch Rahy's Attorney in this event last season. Garrett Gomez returns to ride Ventura in an attempt to exact a bit of revenge over her old rival. Trainer Brian Lynch has been handling Ventura on behalf of Robert Frankel and a recent work of 5F in 59.60 over the Woodbine poly proves that the five-month layoff will not be a factor here today. The game of cat and mouse for positioning should be fun to watch as Gomez will not want to let Callaghan get too far ahead turning into the stretch.

3. Bribon
Last out, Bribon easily handled a field of optional claimers at Saratoga over a mile distance on the turf. The win gives grass credibility to a horse that has run up a string of impressive Beyer figures on the dirt, including an impressive win in the G1 Met Mile. Can Bribon maintain that form against Graded turf horses? Jockey Alan Garcia gets the call and he will have plenty of speed to chase down the stretch.

A full report, with photos, of the entire weekend will be posted following today's card.