The top two from the Northern Dancer (G1), the Pizza Man and Wake Forest take on four Euro shippers in the $1 million Canadian International (G1) at Woodbine on Sunday (Photo credit: Woodbine Entertainment).
A field of nine line up Sunday in the $1 million Pattison Canadian International (G1) at Woodbine with four Euro shippers looking to continue the dominance in the 1 ½ mile turf event, one of the richest in Canada.
European shippers have won the last six editions of the race, with Joshua Tree accounting for three of them. Jockey Ryan Moore is seeking his fourth consecutive win in the race and will be aboard the 5-2 morning line favorite Idaho.
The three-year-old son of Galileo is trained by Aidan O’Brien, who two weeks ago ran 1-2-3 in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) at Chantilly and is on his way to setting the record for most Grade and Group 1 races in a year, a record held by the late Bobby Frankel.
Frankel was the last U.S. based trainer to win the Canadian International, saddling Champs Elysees in 2009. Frankel lost his battle with leukemia less than a month later.
Idaho is looking to rebound after stumbling and dumping the jockey in St. Leger Stakes (G1) at Doncaster in his last outing.
Dartmouth will wear the colors of her owner Queen Elizabeth II. The four-year-old colt is trained by Sir Michael Stoute, who saddled the winners of the last two editions of this race, Hillstar in 2014 and Cannock Chase last year.
William Buick is in to ride the colt, who ran second in the Dubia Duty Free Legacy Cup (G3) in his last start at Newbury.
The other two Euro shippers are Erupt, third in the Grand Prix de Deauville (G2) and Protectionist, winner of three straight in Germany.
Among those shipping in from the U.S. are The Pizza Man, the 2015 Arlington Million (G1) winner who won the Northern Dancer (G1) over the Woodbine turf in his last outing, and the Chad Brown trained Wake Forest, who won the Man O’ War (G1) in May and was second to The Pizza Man in the Northern dancer, beaten a neck.
Let’s head out to Woodbine for Sunday’s featured race of the day:
Woodbine Race 9 The Canadian International G1 (Post time 5:40 ET)
#3 Idaho 5-2
#5 Dartmouth 7-2
#8 Erupt 6-1
#9 Protectionist 3-1
Analysis: Idaho took a bad step and stumbled with three furlongs to go as the heavy chalk in the St. Leger Stakes (G1) last out at Doncaster. The colt was a good looking winner two back in the Voltigeur Stakes (G2) at York. he receives lasix for the first time for the O’Brien barn that won this race in 2010 with Joshua Tree. Jockey Ryan Moore has won the last three editions of this race and Euro shippers have accounted for the last six.
Dartmouth ships in from across the pond for the Sir Michael Stoute barn that has won this race the past two years, with Hillstar in 2014 and Cannock Chase in 2015. The colt is coming off a runner up finish in the Legacy Cup (G3) at Newbury last out This guy reeled off three in a row to start off this year, a pair of Group 3’s and a Group 2. Along with our top pick, they both receive lasix for the first time.
Erupt has lost seven in a row since winning the Grand Prix de Paris (G1) last July at Longchamp. She put in an encouraging effort last out in a third in the Grand Prix de Deauville (G2) and in July was beaten just 1 1/4 lengths in a runner up finish in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud (G1). Decent value if he goes off near his 6-12 morning line.
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 9-5 or better.
EX: 3,5 / 3,5,8,9
TRI: 3,5 / 3,5,8,9 / 3,5,6,8,9
Michael’s Breeders’ Cup Reports includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for every race during the two-day Breeders’ Cup from Santa Anita on Nov. 4-5.
The Breeders’ Cup offers 13 championship races over two days, bringing together the best top horses, trainers, and jockeys from around the world, this year to compete at Santa Anita.
