Ventura works for Woodbine Mile

Ventura will return from a five-month layoff (Ed Van Meter/Horsephotos.com)

The multiple Grade 1-winning mare VENTURA (Chester House) turned in her final

major prep for Sunday's C$1,000,000 Woodbine Mile (Can-G1), covering five

furlongs in :59 3/5 over the Polytrack at Woodbine on Monday. It was the second

fastest of 30 works at the distance. The Juddmonte homebred, trained by Bobby

Frankel, will seek to avenge her loss in last year's Woodbine Mile to RAHY'S

ATTORNEY (Crown Attorney), who defeated Ventura by 1 1/4 lengths en route to

Canadian champion turf horse honors.

Ventura rebounded from last year's Woodbine Mile defeat to capture the

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita by an emphatic four lengths.

She might seek to defend her title in the seven-furlong race on November 7,

which carries Grade 1 status for the first time this year. Ventura has made just

three starts this season, winning the seven-furlong Santa Monica H. (G1) on

January 31, then missing by a nose and head, respectively, when second in both

the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) against males at Santa Anita and the Madison S.

(G1) at Keeneland against fillies and mares. The latter took place on April 9.

Ventura, who also counts the 2008 Just a Game S. (G1) among her top-level

wins, owns a record of 18-8-7-1, $1,659,307.