STERWINS LIVE FOR THE HOME SIDE IN SUNDAY'S MILE

Melnyk Racing Stables’ homebred Sterwins had his final work on Saturday before this weekend's $1 million Woodbine Mile.

The six-year-old son of Runaway Groom worked five furlongs in :59 1/5 over the Toronto oval's Polytrack.

"I was very happy with his work," said trainer Malcolm Pierce. "We just have to coast from now until Sunday."

Sterwins, who won the With Approval last time out, will be cutting back a furlong when he competes in the Mile, which guarantees the winner a berth in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita in November.

Two starts ago, the son of Runaway Groom rallied strongly to just miss victory in the seven-furlong Ontario Jockey Club, indicating that a mile may be within range.

"Seven eighths was a little short for him," said Pierce. "My guess would be 1 1/16 miles would be the optimum distance for him. I hope he can keep himself within striking distance that he can get up in time going a mile against those types of horses. It's my job to have him sharp enough."

Sterwins will be ridden by Woodbine’s leading rider, Patrick Husbands.

Click here to view photos of Sterwins

PROBABLE FIELD FOR THE WOODBINE MILE (11)

Horse/Owner/Trainer/Jockey
Bribon/Marc Keller/Robert Ribaudo/Alan Garcia
Daylight Express/Lord Michael Taylor/Robert Peirce/Anderson Ward
Ferneley/Silver Springs Stud Farm/Ben Cecil/Rafael Bejarano
Field Commission/Edward Seltzer & Dan Vella/Dan Vella/Julien Leparoux
Grand Adventure/Sam-Son Farm/Mark Frostad/Eurico Rosa da Silva
Ice Bear/Augustin Stable/Mac Benson/Chantal Sutherland
Jungle Wave/Tucci Stables/Sid Attard/Todd Kabel
Rahy's Attorney/Ellie Boje Farm, Read Peters, Jean & Jim MacLellan/Slade Callaghan
Sand Cove/Ralph Johnson/Roger Attfield/Richard Dos Ramos
Sterwins/Melnyk Racing Stables/Malcolm Pierce/Patrick Husbands
Ventura/Juddmonte Farms/ Robert Frankel/Garrett Gomez