Woodbine Mile 2026 Analysis (9-12-26)

The 2026 Woodbine Mile is set for Saturday, September 12 at Woodbine, with the Grade 1 event carrying a $1 million purse. The race is for 3-year-olds and up and will be contested at one mile on the turf, with a scheduled post time of 5:20 p.m. Eastern.

Using past-performance data from the Complete Digest, I break down the field, examine the numbers, and identify the contenders.

Woodbine Mile Field

1. Deterministic (2-1)

Deterministic enters the Woodbine Mile in excellent form for trainer Miguel Clement and jockey Kendrick Carmouche.

The 5-year-old is 10-for-16 in his career with three seconds and a third-place finish. He is also 3-for-3 this year and already owns multiple Grade 1 victories, including the Fourstardave at Saratoga on Aug. 8.

Deterministic figures to be forwardly placed from the inside post. His ability to establish a good cruising speed could be an important asset, particularly if he gets an uncontested lead.

However, this one-turn mile presents a slightly different challenge. Much of Deterministic’s success has come at longer distances, including a mile and an eighth and a mile and three-sixteenths.

His strength is his determination and ability to keep fighting once he reaches the stretch. The concern is whether he can outkick horses with a stronger closing burst.

2. Gas Me Up (12-1)

Gas Me Up is looking to repeat his successful pattern from last year.

He won the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes last year before finishing third in the Woodbine Mile. He has now won the King Edward again, taking this year’s renewal by a nose.

The horse has six starts at Woodbine, with four victories and a third-place finish, and he is a three-time winner at one mile.

His 146 final-time rating in the King Edward was solid, but this year’s Woodbine Mile appears deeper. At 12-1 on the morning line, however, he could be interesting for the exotics.

3. Notable Speech (1-1)

Notable Speech is the morning-line favorite and strictly the horse to beat.

The Godolphin runner is trained by Charles Appleby and will be ridden by William Buick, who regularly rides the horse.

Notable Speech has won nine of 18 career starts and has earned nearly $4 million. He won this race last year before adding another major victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

He has also won two Group 1 races overseas this year, further establishing his credentials at the highest level.

Most importantly, Notable Speech owns the strongest closing kick in this field. That could prove decisive if Deterministic is in front turning for home.

Read more at Today's Racing Digest