The 16th Running of the G1 WO Mile
September 18, 2021 14:10
WO Race #4 $1,000.000 1-Mile Turf
3YO+ 120/123 Lbs (F/M 117/120 Lbs)
Track Record-1:31.72 (Cleveland Browns-2012)
Stakes Record-1:31.82 (Charming Behrens-2011)
It’s another big weekend of racing as we continue down the road to the BC and the G1 WO Mile has drawn a full gate of 14 horses seeking a share of the $1,000.000 purse and the automatic birth to the G1 BC Mile that goes to the winner. Iron Nation took this event last year in his final prep before winning the G1 BC Mile and, ultimately, being named HOY. The champ is back to defend his title and looks to give his conditioner a third straight G1 WO Mile victory. Nakamura Stables (2019/2020) and Cherrytree Hill Farm (2016/2017) are the only conditioners to take more than a single running while G. Gomez (2012/2013) and R. Bejarano (2016/2017) are the only jockeys who have posed for the cameras more than once. This year’s G1 WO Mile looks to be among the most competitive events of 2021 as 13 of the 14 horses entered are graded winners. Can Iron Nation repeat? Can La Terrifiant beat the boys again? Can the author pick the winner? Here’s the field for the $1,000.000 G1 WO Mile.
#1 Beach Xaar (Diablo Diablo/V. Espinoza 120): Before the introduction of the current race engine, 3yos tended to dominate their elders at this point in the season. Unfortunately for the two 3yos in the field that no longer seems to be the case. This guy has been close in consecutive graded tries, including most recent effort against his elders, and the rail post helps, but he will need to turn in a superstar performance to best the thirteen horses to his outside.
#2 Commander Wellesley (Jive Inc/D. Moran 123): Got over the graded hump last month with the local G2 score in the King Edward BC and returns here in excellent form. Is just a few lengths away from having an incredible season and has raced his way into this spot. Everything points to him turning-in another big performance and he could cement his place in the big one in November with another top three placing.
#3 City Watch (John Henry/D. Davis 123): 4yo comes in to this a winner in three of his last five, including the G3 AP Classic score two back. Hasn’t really stuck to a designated “style” in his one mile races, so it will be interesting to see what type of tactics his veteran conditioner employs here from this inner draw. Don’t think he enjoyed the 11-furlongs in his last and fully expect him to run big in this spot.
#4 Iron Nation (Nakamura Stables/V.R. Carrasco 123): Defending champ returns to see if he can get back in the win column for the first time in 2021. He hasn’t run poorly this season, but things just haven’t gone his way. Comes into this fresh as he’s been off since July 17 and that kind of break has been good to him in the past. All that being said, he needs to show he still has the desire to compete at this level in order to leave WO with the trophy.
#5 Hollywood Command (Scarletandgraystable/C.J. Hernandez 123): Claimed for $7.500 at the end of his sophomore campaign, all this 4yo has done is take two graded stakes and an allowance in five starts this season. Just missed last month in the G2 DMR Mile and faces that winner again in here. No reason to think he’s outclassed in this and, if he can find a bit more, he can be a real danger to take the top prize.
#6 Cherokee Surprise (TwinTowersRacing/J.R. Velazquez 123): Winless on turf sice G2 score at the FG in February, but did find the winner’s circle after a 5f ELP allowance over the dirt last out. Maybe the switch gets him back in gear as he floundered in four graded turf tries while never getting closer than 8th beaten two lengths. Think he’ll be running late, but have to wonder if he can pass as many high quality horses as he’ll need to in order to climb this mountain.
#7 King Que Niagra (D J C Racing Stables/T. Gaffalione 123): Took the G2 Fort Marcy in May, but has gone winless since and the last two efforts were too bad to believe. If you can forgive those latest efforts, you can find races on his form that can make him competitive; however, this does not appear to be the race in which you need to be looking for a form reversal.
#8 Insist Always (Mb Stables/S.R. Bahen 123): First of two for the conditioner enters here after taking the G1 Fourstardave in his last. That run continued his good form on the lawn as he sports 11 exacta finishes in 12 turf starts; the other run was a 3rd-place effort. The fact that he enters here commands respect as his conditioner had other bullets he could have fired here and the horse had other options as well, so expect him to cement his status in this division.
#9 Manchild (Arindel/L. Saez 120): The second sophomore in the field enters fresh off of a G2 score in the National Museum of Racing last month. As stated earlier, in other iterations of the race engine this guy would be even more of a threat, but he appears to be coming up to this challenge as well as he could be. Looks to need some pace in front of him, but no reason to believe he won’t be running late.
#10 Atomic Eclipse (La Canada Racehorses/G. Saez 123): Two G3 scores on his 2021 resume, but has yet to best a field of this caliber. Was only beaten a length in this event last year when he was up on the pace early. This year has done his best running from a couple lengths off of the pace and this post makes that a tad tricky; however, if he can get his preferred trip, he can factor into the outcome of this G1 contest.
#11 Cp Skeleton Moons (Grefriars Stable/I. Ortiz Jr 120): 4yo lass picked an extremely tough assignment for her first turf outing and first try against the boys. She is a G3 winner on the dirt and has been able to carry her speed over a route of ground in those races. Last published turf work was in November of her juvenile season, so incredibly tough to predict how she’ll fit in this.
#12 Immoral (Mb Stables/E. Jaramillo 123): 4yo will making his 9th start in a G1 in his last 10 races and has three such wins during that stretch. Incredibly consistent runner is the second for his conditioner and gets the services of barn’s favorite jock. Has his work cut out for him from this post, but he will have the long WO backstretch to find his rhythm and get into a position he likes. Hard to knock and have to believe he means business for this.
#13 La Terrifiant (Smokey Stover/Mario Gutierrez 120): G2 DMR Mile victress looks to duplicate that effort to cement her spot in the gate for the G1 BC Mile. Doesn’t get the five-pound weight allowance here, but still gets three pounds from all but three runners. Has been a model of consistency throughout her career and has given no indication that she will be slowing-down any time soon. Major threat even from out here.
#14 Butter Ball (Angelos Stable/S. Ryan 123): Old man of the group has been snake-bit this season in his graded tries as he’s always found a way to lose. Has run extremely well in all nine of his starts as his largest defeat on the season was by two lengths. Whoever pulled the pill at the draw did him no favors, but he will most likely look to drop back and make one run at them. Hasn’t gotten the run timed-up just right this year, but anyone dismissing his chances could be kicking themselves when he crosses the wire.
Final Analysis: In a bit of “wishful thinking” 13-12-4 with the last furlong an absolute dogfight between three of the more recent greats of the game. Immoral gets the nod if the turf comes-up anything but firm. Good luck to everyone in the $1,000.000 G1 WO Mile!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
