Trent Reinsmith
- Date: Saturday, September 17, 2022
- Location: Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Time: 5:35 p.m, ET
- How to Watch: YouTube
Saturday, September 17 is one of the biggest days of the Woodbine horse racing year. The focus of the day is the $1,000,000 Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1). The race, one of the three flagship events of the Woodbine racing meet, is one of the most important races ahead of the annual Breeders’ Cup. The horse who claims victory at the 2022 Ricoh Woodbine Mile gets a “Win and You’re In” spot at the 2022 Breeders’ Cup.
The 2021 Woodbine Mile drew a field of ten horses, an international group consisting of American, Canadian, and British competitors. Town Cruise, who is in the 2022 edition of the event, won in 2021 with a time of 1:35.14.
The 2022 Woodbine Mile features the following horses: Mighty Heart, Ivar, Wakanka, Finest Sound, Modern Games, Shirl’s Speight, Homer Screen, Get Smokin, War Bomber, Town Cruise and March to the Arch.
Before we look at the top competitors in the field for the 2022 Woodbine Mile, check out our betting guide for the race, as well as how to bet on the 2022 Breeders’ Cup. The odds were last updated on September 16, 2022:
Woodbine Mile picks
| Odds to Win Woodbine |  |  |  |
| Modern Games | +180 | +180 | +185 |
| Ivar | +500 | +450 | +450 |
| Wakanaka | +600 | +650 | +600 |
| Finest Sound | +800 | +800 | +900 |
| Shirl's Speight | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
Modern Games
Modern Games, who is trained by Charlie Appleby, heads to North America for the first time since he won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf race in 2021. The Godolphin-owned horse has performed well in Europe in 2022 with a season-opening win in the Group 1 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains, the first leg of the French Triple Crown. Modern Games’ most recent performance was a second in the one-mile Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes in England, where he lost to Baaeed by 1 3/4 lengths.
As for Modern Games’ trainer, Appleby went 9-for-18 in North America last year. The horse’s jockey, William Buick, is 5-for-7 in North America in the past two years. All Buick’s wins have come while riding for Appleby.
Modern Games is a three-year-old.
Ivar
Ivar, who is a six-year-old who is trained by Paulo Lobo. The horse has run twice at the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Owned by Bonne Chance Farm, Ivar is a two-time Group I winner in Argentina. He won the 2020 Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland before finishing fourth at the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland.
Ivar is coming off a win at the July 9 $100,000 Jonathan Schuster Memorial Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He won that race after being pulled from races in April and May.
Jockey Joe Talamo, who has more than 2,250 career wins will be aboard Ivar at the 2022 Woodbine Mile.
Wakanaka
A filly, Wakanaka, deserves some attention at the 2022 Woodbine Mile. The only filly in the race, Wakanaka has some solid finishes as of late and could be an under-the-radar pick to get things done on Saturday in Toronto. Wakanaka is trained by William I. Mott and Manuel Franco will be her jockey.
Our pick
Ivar is the most talented horse running in the 2022 Woodbine Mile and he is our pick to win. However, Wakanaka could present a value bet to pull off an upset win.
Pick: Ivar to win the 2022 Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes.
See below the best racebooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
