Coming up on Saturday, September 16 is the flagship race of the Woodbine Racetrack meet: the $1 million Woodbine Mile! Top turf milers from around the world mark this day on their calendars, not only for the rich purse but also for the automatic bid to the Breeders’ Cup awarded to the winner. And, anyone who bets on horses is going to find excellent opportunities!
The Woodbine Mile is one of the most consistently important prep races for the entire Breeders’ Cup festival. Over just the last twelve years, horses have swept the Woodbine Mile - Breeders’ Cup Mile double five times: Court Vision (2011), Wise Dan (2012, 2013), World Approval (2017), and Modern Games (2022). And, Tepin won this race the year after she won the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Who will add their name to this exciting list this year? Keep reading to find out, and to see the best places to wager on the race online.
Betting the Woodbine Mile Online
Before you choose the horses you plan to bet, you need to know where to bet them. Betting the race online is the most convenient way to play, since you can do it from anywhere with an internet connection. You have many options, but our trusted betting site reviews are here to help cut through the noise and help you make the right choice quickly and easily. Every recommended site has the basics: market-leading odds, trusted payouts, and a great user experience.
Each site also offers different bonuses, and it can mean hundreds or even thousands of extra dollars if you pick the best one for your wagering style. Our reviews show the best online betting bonuses, so you can pick the one that will be most profitable for you. Taking a few minutes now will help you win the most money down the line!
These are your best options for betting the Woodbine Mile online:
Woodbine Mile Handicapping
You have your betting site account set up, so it’s time to turn your attention to the big race. Let’s meet the field for the 2023 Woodbine Mile!
2023 Woodbine Mile Contenders
These are the official contenders for the 2023 Woodbine Mile including post positions, trainers, and jockeys:
- Master of the Seas (Charlie Appleby / William Buick)
- War Bomber (Norman McKnight / Rico Walcott)
- Shirl’s Speight (Roger Attfield / John Velazquez)
- Ice Chocolat (Mark Casse / Joel Rosario)
- My Sea Cottage (Mark Casse / Dylan Davis)
- Lucky Score (Mark Casse / Sahin Civaci)
The morning-line odds can be a good guide to which horses are expected to take money. However, those are not the prices you are guaranteed to get at the windows if you play from the track. Your best bet is playing the Woodbine Mile at an online sportsbook, since you can lock in the best price as soon as you see an overlay, and be confident that’s the price you will get when your horse wins!
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of the Seas | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Ice Chocolat | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Shirl's Speight | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| War Bomber | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Lucky Score | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| My Sea Cottage | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Woodbine Mile Top Selection
The best bet in the Woodbine Mile is War Bomber. He comes into the race with a victory in the local prep, the King Edward (G2), and is well proven over Woodbine’s unique, sweeping outer turf course. He also has an excellent running style for this: not only is he a stalking type, but won the King Edward while stalking a sharp pace, something he’ll get with rabbit My Sea Cottage in the field.
War Bomber will also be a value price given his connections. With bigger international names likely to take the spotlight, War Bomber will probably slip under the radar since he is trained by Norm McKnight, a well-proven local trainer who has yet to be well known outside of Ontario or Oaklawn. This is good news for betting purposes.
Woodbine Mile Exotic Horses
Master of the Seas comes out for trainer Charlie Appleby, who is one of the sharpest globetrotters today, and who has become a fixture at the Woodbine Mile. This runner is pace-versatile, so although he is unlikely to be right up near the pace, he shouldn’t be left with a chasm to make up late. And, his Group-level class in Europe should fit well here.
Trainer Mark Casse sends out three of the six Woodbine Mile entrants; the best of the bunch appears to be Ice Chocolat. He comes out of a good third in the Fourstardave (G1) behind Saratoga-loving Casa Creed. Though Ice Chocolat probably does not get all the way up -- after all, the services of rabbit My Sea Cottage weren’t enough then, either -- he is likely for a piece.
Among the rest, the best bet for exotic value is to try and get My Sea Cottage into those gimmick wagers. He is the frontrunner in a short field, and the change to a one-turn mile should play to his favor. Compare that to Shirl’s Speight, a shorter-priced horse who prefers a two-turn mile. Lucky Score, who rounds out the field, just won’t get enough pace to close into.
Woodbine Mile Best Bets
Now that you have signed up for the best betting site for you and met the field, it’s time for the best part: playing the race. These are the best bets for the 2023 Woodbine Mile!
- $20 to win: #2 War Bomber
- $1 exacta: #2 War Bomber over #1 Master of the Seas
- $0.50 trifecta: #2 War Bomber over #1 Master of the Seas, #4 Ice Chocolat and #5 My Sea Cottage
