The co-feature on Woodbine Mile day was the $500,000 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (G1) for older horses going 1 1/2 miles on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course. A field of 8 went to the gate on Sunday afternoon, with Wigmore Hall sent off as the 7-5 favorite, fourth in the Arlington Million (G1) last out but winless since the Jebel Hatta (G2) in Dubai in March. In to challenge him included 3-1 second choice Bourbon Bay, second in the Del Mar Handicap (G2) after winning the Cougar II Handicap (G3) both at Del Mar, and 7-2 third choice Al Khali, third in the Sword Dancer Invitational (G1) at Saratoga last out.
Bourbon Bay went to the lead first time past the stands and he set easy fractions of 25.61, 52.80, and 1:18.91 over the firm going, while as many as 2 1/2 lengths in front of Hotep and Seaside Retreat. On the turn, Simmard moved up to challenge, taking over the lead through 1 mile in 1:43.42 and 1 1/4 miles in 2:07.52. Simmard opened up a 2 length advantage entering the stretch, but Wigmore Hall, who was 7th at the top of the stretch, closed with a rush down the rail to pass Simmard late to win by a neck in 2:30.67. It was another 1/2 length back to late-running Al Khali third.
Woodbine Mile (G1) results - the feature race on the card
