Defending champion Wise Dan romps to easy Ricoh Woodbine Mile victory

TORONTO – Wise Dan successfully defended his title Sunday in the $1-million Ricoh Woodbine Mile.

The 1-5 favourite romped to a comfortable 3 1/2-length victory — his ninth straight Graded Stakes win — in the record-low six-horse field with a course-record time of 1:31.75 on a firm turf at Woodbine Racetrack.

Wise Dan, the reigning U.S. horse of the year and Breeders’ Cup Mile champion, earned the $600,000 winner’s share and a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

The six-year-old gelding became the first two-time Mile winner while trainer Charlie LoPresti earned his record-tying third straight victory in this event.

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez registered a record fourth Mile victory.

Za Approval was second with Trade Storm taking third in overcast, breezy conditions.

Earlier, French-bred Minakshi, a 7-1 pick with Woodbine’s Luis Contreras aboard, won the $300,000 Northern Dancer turf event run at about 1 1/8 mile in 1:44.05.

Colonial Flag, at 10-1, was second ahead of 16-1 longshot Moment of Majesty.

Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield had the first two finishers in the $300,000 Canadian Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares.

Forte Dei Marmi, the 4/5 favourite won its third straight stakes race in 2:28.46 by a neck over 16-1 longshot Perfect Timber.

Patrick Husbands, a resident of Brampton, Ont., and seven-time Sovereign Award winner as Canada’s top jockey, rode 15-1 longshot Alythiela to victory on Sunday’s card, his first since a racing mishap in May.

Husbands, 39, suffered a fractured tibia at Woodbine when his mount, A Tough Buck, collapsed just after the finish line and he was caught beneath the horse.