TORONTO, September 14, 2019 – El Tormenta and jockey Eurico Rosa Da Silva won the 23rd running of the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1) on Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack. The Ontario-bred four-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic is trained by Gail Cox for owner/breeder Sam-Son Farm. Top three finishers: El Tormenta-Got Stormy-Lucullan Winning time: 1:32.60 EURICO ROSA DA SILVA, JOCKEY OF EL TORMENTA (1st) “Today is Canadian day. I’m so happy. Luis (jockey, Contreras) won one (Starship Jubilee, Grade 2 Canadian Stakes) and I won now. Unbelievable horse. I want to thank Gail (trainer, Cox). What a wonderful job she did with this horse. I want to thank Sam-Son Farm. I have been with these people a long time, and they breed them to win big races. And here, what do you got?” “This was my last opportunity to win this race – it was the only one left. And this was my opportunity, and here we are. I was fully focused. It was a little tough with Pink Lloyd (declared a non-starter in the Grade 3 Bold Venture, earlier in the card) when he broke from the gate today, but I keep talking to myself, ‘Just focus on what you need to focus on, and keep faith in your horse. And never give up.’ This horse ran so beautifully. Good luck to everybody!” MICHAEL BALAZ, SAM-SON FARM, OWNER OF EL TORMENTA (1st) “He’s had a good campaign, but a lot of tough luck. Eurico gave him a masterful ride, and got him through. He was able to really show his best self today. What a special win.” “This is as sweet as any. That’s all I can say. It’s great to see him doing so well, and credit to Gail for the great job with him all year long. He hasn’t run a bad race. I’m lost for words. It’s so special.” On a possible date in the Breeders’ Cup… “I think that will be a decision that the higher-ups will have to make, and everyone will have to get together. I don’t see why not after running like that.” GAIL COX, TRAINER OF EL TORMENTA (1st) “Oh it’s huge. It’s a Grade 1 win and it’s a ‘Win and You’re In,’ so it’s huge.” “I was a little worried with the one-hole and being on the rail because if you’ve seen his past three starts, they’ve been troubled. I just think he was laying closer and really bullied his way through a little bit. He’s a very, very nice horse, and was probably overlooked here.” “Last year, I thought he was a sprinter. He ran shorter and he ran a different style. This year, every start, we thought he’d probably like to go a little farther.” MARK CASSE, TRAINER OF FAVOURITE GOT STORMY (2nd) “I was proud of her. I knew, this is a tough place to win. There is a huge home field advantage. This will be fine. This will set her up. They still have to beat her, I think, in California (in the Breeders’ Cup Mile). Obviously, we would have liked to win but I’m extremely proud of her.” On the race setup… “I was just a little worried that they weren’t going to carry her far enough and that she’d make the lead. But the winner ran very well, showed a lot of guts down inside. I was proud of our filly. I’ve lost no respect for her and I feel extremely confident that we’ll be right there in the Breeders’ Cup.” TYLER GAFFALIONE, JOCKEY OF FAVOURITE GOT STORMY (2nd) “Mark and I were just walking around the rail and it’s rock hard, it seems like it might be the best spot on the track. The post position was good, we got a beautiful trip. She ran her heart out. She gave us everything she had. She’s an incredible filly. I’m looking forward to her in the Breeders’ Cup. I think she’ll be dynamite out there. This track is a one-turn mile, it’s a long course. She has a lot of quickness to her and I think Santa Anita will fit her perfectly. She laid it all out there today. Congratulations to the winner, they ran a big race. It took a nice horse to beat her today.” Share This:Share
