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Town Cruise Leads All the Way in Woodbine Mile

Ontario-bred is owned, trained, and co-bred by Brandon Greer.

Town Cruise wins the Woodbine Mile at Woodbine

Town Cruise wins the Woodbine Mile at Woodbine

Michael Burns

The Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T) trophy will stay local this year after Ontario-bred Town Cruise rolled to a front-running score Sept. 18 with a comfortable lead throughout in Woodbine's CA$1,120,800 (US$877,517) feature.

The 6-year-old son of Town Prize is owned and trained by Brandon Greer, who bred the gelding in partnership with his father Terrence Greer. 

"It feels a little surreal at the moment, but I'm absolutely thrilled with him," said Brandon Greer. "This horse is amazing. I absolutely love him.

"I could see him digging in; that's something that he's been able to do very well this year," he continued. "Dig in the late stages, even though he's been in the front. I found it a little difficult to believe right until the final sixteenth and then I can see the other horses just didn't have enough to catch up there."

Town Cruise wins the Woodbine Mile Stakes Saturday, September 18, 2021 at Woodbine
Photo: Michael Burns
Town Cruise and connections head to the winner's circle at Woodbine

Town Cruise won two of his three starts this season heading into the Woodbine Mile. His two victories came at the allowance level, and he finished second in the Aug. 15 King Edward Stakes (G2T), his stakes debut, when caught by fellow Woodbine Mile rival Olympic Runner racing over the same course and distance.

With Daisuke Fukumoto, the only jockey to have ridden him this year, back aboard, Town Cruise broke on top from the rail and enjoyed an unpressured lead. He was a length in front as he set an opening quarter-mile in :24.08, then had a two-length lead when he ran a half-mile in :47.10.

The chestnut gelding was still two lengths ahead as he put up three-quarters in 1:10.41. He held sway under a hand ride to cross the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front, paying $19.30 on a $2 win ticket after being sent off at 8-1 odds. 

The final time on the turf course rated good was 1:35.14.

The Woodbine Mile was the biggest career win for both Brandon Greer, who saddled his first runner in 2004, and Fukumoto, who began riding in North America in 2017 and won the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes aboard Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart in 2020.

"This is fantastic," said Fukumoto. "I am still in awe; it's an unbelievable feeling. Winning a grade 1 is my dream, and I got a good horse this year so far. He's been good all year so far. For me, I am just crazy happy. I had pretty good confidence. I just knew for a shot I had to take (the) front. He went good, I took the lead, and wait and wait and he finished well."

Space Traveller rallied from mid-pack to finish second three-quarters of a length over multiple grade 1 winner Raging Bull  in third. March to the Arch was fourth, followed by Ride a Comet, Duke of Hazzard, 8-5 favorite Set Piece, Olympic Runner, Avie's Flatter, and Change of Control.

Town Cruise improved his record to 6-2-1 from 14 starts. He has earned $789,642.

Town Cruise wins the Woodbine Mile Stakes Saturday, September 18, 2021 at Woodbine
Photo: Michael Burns
Town Cruise's connections hoist the Woodbine Mile trophy

Along with the Woodbine Mile victory, Town Cruise picked up an automatic berth in the Nov. 6 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) at Del Mar. Town Cruise would have to be supplemented to the Breeders' Cup World Championships to compete, but his connections have not made a decision yet on whether they will go.

"Well, I'm going to have to ask someone very important first—the horse," Brandon Greer said. "We're going to take a couple of days and just take it slow, take it easy, see how everything is after the race, and then I'll ask the horse and see what he wants to do."

Town Cruise is out of the Candy Ride  mare Candy Cruise, whom the Greers purchased for US$4,268 from Box Arrow Farm's consignment to the 2007 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario Division) Canadian-Bred Yearling Sale.

Video: Ricoh Woodbine Mile S. (G1T)