Win for the Money gives Live Oak a Grade 1 double Saturday at Woodbine

Win for the Money came up the inside fence in the stretch to win the $1 million Rogers Woodbine Mile (G1) on Saturday, just a few hours after Live Oak Plantation’s And One More Time took the Natalma S. (G1) over the same track.

Like And One More Time, Saturday’s win was also the first Grade 1 victory for Win for the Money. Both the Mile and the Natalma are “Win and You’re In” races for the Breeders’ Cup, the former for the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) and the latter for the Mile (G1).

Win for the Money, who was graded placed twice in 2023 on Woodbine’s main track, has been on the turf exclusively this year, including a win in the Mr. Steele S. in May at Gulfstream Park.

Win for the Money was unhurried early in the Mile before launching his bid with about three furlongs to go. Jockey Patrick Husbands kept the 5-year-old chestnut along the rail turning for home, then ran down pacesetter Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) to win by 1 ½-lengths in a swift 1:32.11 on the firm turf.

“I must say, I give out respect to [trainer] Mark [Casse],” said Husbands. “I had a perfect trip. I figured, from reading the Racing Form, if I come off the pace, it’s my best chance. So, when he breaks, and he breaks so relaxed, I was happy.”

Win for the Money is now 5-5-1 in 16 starts and has earned $794,997.