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Eleven listed as likely for Woodbine Mile
"As of right now, we're happy with the progress he's made since, so we're cautiously optimistic. We've got to hope that things stay good for another week." Courageous Cat put the finishing touches on his preparation by breezing five furlongs in a bullet :59 4/5 over Saratoga's firm Oklahoma training turf on Sunday. He will be ridden by veteran Pat Valenzuela, who won the 2006 Woodbine Mile aboard Becrux (Ity). Right One, third to Courageous Cat in the Poker two starts back, has been freshened since his score in the July 16 Jaipur. Trained by Christophe Clement, he will not be joined by his illustrious stablemate, two-time turf champion Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat), who had likewise been considered for the Woodbine prize. Court Vision would be making his first start for new connections. Since his fourth-place effort in the June 18 Colonial Turf Cup, the royally-bred six-year-old was purchased privately by Spendthrift Farm and transferred to the barn of Dale Romans. He was previously trained by Rick Dutrow for IEAH Stables, Golden Goose Enterprises, Resolute Group Stables and WinStar Farm.
Vaughn also commented on Dance and Dance's upward mobility. "It took him five attempts to eventually break his maiden," Vaughan said. "He's just progressed a little bit each year, but we've had a bigger jump up the ratings this year and he's really come to the fore. "I think it's a physical thing," he observed. "He looks great physically this year, stronger than he ever has. And yet, strangely enough, he'll be the smallest horse in the field, there's no doubt about that. He's a very small, little horse but he's toned up and really strong and he's holding his condition really well." Dance and Dance looked poised to land the competitive Royal Hunt Cup heritage handicap at Royal Ascot on June 15, but got caught in a mosh pit. "He just got bulldozed out of the way," Vaughan said. "He should have gotten the stewards' ruling, he was beaten a half-length and it cost him his momentum and he switched gears. He is the moral winner." The formerly British-based FORTEI DEI MARMI (GB) (Selkirk) will make his debut for Canadian Hall of Famer Roger Attfield, who will also send out HOLLINGER (Black Minnaloushe). Hollinger ranked as Canada's champion two-year-old male following a perfect season in 2009, but he has not won since. Attfield believes that he could be sitting on a breakthrough. "He was a champion two-year-old, but he didn't train on as a three-year-old as he had some physical issues," Attfield said. "He had a back issue that needed a lot of time, so we just gave him the rest of the three-year-old year off."
The post position draw, scheduled for Thursday at noon (EDT), will be streamed live at the special Woodbine Mile microsite. James Reimer, the outstanding second-year goaltender for the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, will be the drawmaster. Sunday's other Grade 1 event, the 1 1/2-mile Northern Dancer Turf S., is expected to attract a field of 10: AL KHALI (Medaglia d'Oro), BOURBON BAY (Sligo Bay [Ire]), HAILSTONE (City Zip), HOTEP (A.P. Indy), KARA'S ORIENTATION (Orientate), LAUREATE CONDUCTOR (Bernstein), MUSKETIER (Ger) (Acatenango), SEASIDE RETREAT (King Cugat), SIMMARD (Dixieland Band) and the globetrotting WIGMORE HALL (Ire) (High Chaparral [Ire]).
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