World Approval rolls in Woodbine Mile (G1)

Live Oak Plantation’s World Approval won the third Grade 1 of his illustrious career with a commanding score in the $800,000 Woodbine Mile (G1) over an international field of grass horses.

With no one seeming to want the lead early on, World Approval was in alongside Dragon Bay on the front in what was a very well-bunched field of a dozen turf runners. World Approval poked his head in front with about three furlongs to run, then accelerated powerfully when jockey John Velazquez asked him at the top of the stretch. The final margin was nearly three lengths when the winner hit the wire in 1:33.05 on the firm tur.

“He was going so well the whole way around, I was just hoping when he switched down the lane, and I asked him, that he would respond,” said Velazquez. “That’s exactly what he did. As soon as he switched, I let him know, he took off. He was ready.”

“As long as he’s healthy, we are going to the Breeders’ Cup (for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile Nov. 4 at Del Mar),” added trainer Mark Casse. “Am I confident we can win? I don’t think I would change places with anybody. I think he’s good right now. I thought his race was impressive.”

Bred and owned by Live Oak Plantation, World Approval now has six graded stakes victories and is 10-2-4 in 23 starts lifetime. A win in the Mile would duplicate the feat of Miesque’s Approval, his older half-brother, who earned divisional championship honors in 2006.

World Approval rolls in Woodbine Mile (G1)