The $1 million Woodbine Mile (G1) is contested at 1 mile around 1 turn of the E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. Shakespeare was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the field of 14, coming off an allowance victory at Saratoga after a 21-month layoff. In to challenge were 5-1 second choice Remarkable News, coming into the Mile off two Grade 2 victories, the Dixie at Pimlico and then the Firecracker at Churchill Downs, and 6-1 third choice Kip Deville, third in the Oceanport at Monmouth Park last time out.
Under skillful handling by jockey Garrett Gomez, favorite Shakespeare did not disappoint his backers. Gomez angled him to the hedge to save ground over the firmer part of the course and settled him in tenth early, 7 lengths off the pace set by Remarkable News of 23.82, 46.71, and 1:09.98. On the turn, Shakespeare gradually moved up on the leaders, and in mid stretch, Gomez found running room inside Kip Deville. Shakespeare switched leads and surged through the opening, drawing clear through the final 1/16 to win by 1 length in 1:33.58 over the firm course. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Galantas in third, a neck ahead of pacesetter Remarkable News in fourth. Only 3 3/4 lengths separated the first six finishers.
