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2018 Canadian International Entries

Honorary Drawmaster for the Canadian International retired Toronto Maple Leafs player Darcy Tucker

Results are here!

On Saturday, a classy field of 11 older horses will go to post in the 81st running of the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International, a 1 1/2 mile trip around Woodbine's E.P. Taylor Turf Course for a guaranteed purse of $800,000. Final entries were taken and post positions were drawn at a special lunch event held on Wednesday afternoon. Retired Toronto Maple Leafs right winger Darcy Tucker was on hand to assist racing secretary Stu Slagle and track announcer Robert Geller with the proceedings.

Drawing the posts with racing secretary Stuart Slagle, drawmaster Darcy Tucker, and track announcer Robert Geller.

The native of Endiang, Alberta started his career with the Montreal Canadiens and also spent time with Tampa Bay and Colorado, but is best remembered for his time with the Leafs. He was a fan favorite in Toronto, known for both his offensive capabilities but also his physical play. Since retiring he has been an active member of the Leafs Alumni, saying that early on, fans would talk about the alumni more, given the lack of success on ice, but over the last few years, the focus has finally switched to the current team. Tucker regrets never getting to hoist the Stanley Cup over his head but expressed confidence that the current team may have what it takes, after several years of either failing to make the playoffs or getting eliminated in the first round. He said "We need to get over that hump, win a couple (of playoff) rounds and see where that takes us." He said if he owned a racehorse it would be named "Crazy Eyes" because of the look he used to give opposing players.

Jonathan Zammit, Woodbine's VP of Thoroughbred Racing Operations briefly touched on the renovations, saying the inner turf course is all but complete and we "just have to put up the rails and we'll be ready to run in the spring", pointing out that Secretariat's final race, the 1973 Canadian International, ended on the inner turf course, making a comeback after that area was used for harness racing from New Year's Day 1994 to the end of the 2017-18 winter meet.

Bullards Alley winning the 2017 Canadian International

Thundering Blue is the 2-1 morning line favorite out of post 2. After winning the SkyBet York Stakes (G2) he was 3rd in the Juddmonte International (G1) also at York, and then shipped to Bro Park to win the Stockholm Cup International (G3). Regular rider Fran Berry gets the call again for trainer David Menuisier. Spring Quality drew post 6 as the 4-1 second choice. He won the Manhattan (G1) before finishing 3rd in the Sword Dancer (G1) and 7th in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1). Edgar Prado retains the mount for trainer Graham Motion. David Simcock trains the 6-1 third choice Desert Encounter. He won the listed Sri Lanka August Stakes at Windsor before finishing a close third in the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup (G3) at Newbury. Andrea Atzeni will be in the irons out of the 10 post.

Blond Me winning the 2017 E.P. Taylor Stakes.

The distaff counterpart to the International is the $500,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1), featuring a field of 9 older fillies and mares going 1 1/4 miles on the turf and is carded as race 10 at 6:18pm, immediately after the International. Chad Brown sends out three, Elysea's World, Pollara, and Santa Monica. Elysea's World comes here off wins in the Matchmaker (G3) and Violet (G3) both at Monmouth, drawing post 8 for jockey Joe Bravo, while fellow Irish-bred Pollara is making her first North American start after winning the Prix de Royaumont (G3) at Chantilly, with Irad Ortiz Jr. breaking from the 3 hole. English-bred Santa Monica won the Dance Smartly Stakes (G2) on Queen's Plate day, before finishing second in the Glens Falls (G2) at Saratoga. Jose Ortiz will be in the irons out of stall 2.

Field of Courage winning the 2017 Nearctic Stakes

There are 2 other graded stakes on the undercard. The $250,000 Nearctic Stakes (G2) features a field of 11 older horses sprinting 6 furlongs on the turf, carded as Race 7 going to post at 4:30pm ET. Trainer Mike Maker has 3 entered, Ontario Jockey Club Stakes winner Hemp Hemp Hurray from post 1 (Rafael Hernandez), allowance winner Kitten's Cat out of post 2 (Eurico da Silva), and former claimer Hembree out of the 4 hole (Irad Ortiz Jr.). Mark Casse counters with two, Play the King (G2) 4th place finisher Holding Gold in post 7 (John Velazquez) and Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G3) 7th place finisher Conquest Panthera in the 8 hole (Joe Bravo).

Kicking off the stakes quartet on Saturday will be the $125,000 Ontario Derby (G3) featuring a field of six 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on the Tapeta main track, the 3rd race of the card at 2:14pm ET. Mark Casse sends out the two inside posts, Woodstock Stakes winner Curlin's Honor with Irad Ortiz Jr. on the rail, and allowance winner Lookin to Strike with Gary Boulanger in the 2.

The full list of the entries for the day, including the International, the E.P. Taylor Stakes, and the Nearctic Stakes, are available from Equibase. Free past performances are available online from BRISnet here:
Canadian International (search for Spring Quality)
E.P. Taylor Stakes (search for Summer Luck)
Nearctic Stakes (search for Lady Alexandra)
Ontario Derby (search for Curlin's Honor)

Here are the entries for the 2018 Pattison Canadian International (G1). All horses will carry 126 pounds except 3-year-old colt Bandua who carries 121. The International goes off at 5:41pm ET as the 9th race on Sunday, and will be shown live on TSN3 in Canada from 5:00-6:00pm. The full card at Woodbine will be shown on both HPItv in Canada and TVG in the United States, as well as at simulcast sites across North America, and online via free live streaming.

Post	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Odds
1	Markitoff	Michael J. Maker	Irad Ortiz Jr.	20-1
2	Thundering Blue	David Menuisier	Fran Berry	2-1
3	Khan	Hank Grewe	Clement Lecoeuvre	10-1
4	Funtastic	Chad C. Brown	John Velazquez	8-1
5	Tiz a Slam	Roger L. Attfield	Steve Bahen	20-1
6	Spring Quality	H. Graham Motion	Edgar Prado	4-1
7	English Illusion	Sylvain Pion	Rafael Hernandez	15-1
8	Bandua	Jack Sisterson	Adam Beschizza	20-1
9	Johnny Bear	Ashlee Brnjas	Luis Contreras	8-1
10	Desert Encounter	David Simcock	Andrea Atzeni	6-1
11	Focus Group	Chad Brown	Jose Ortiz	10-1

Canadian International links:

The Canadian International trophy

• Entries for International day from Equibase
• Woodbine main page
• Woodbine Stable News and Notes - lots of info is here
• Woodbine Daily Sheet - free from Jim Mazur and Jim Bannon
• Current weather - currently we expect it to be high 40's with a chance of rain on raceday
• Past Runnings:
  • 2017 Canadian International - won by Bullards Alley and the 2017 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Blond Me
  • 2016 Canadian International - won by Erupt and the 2016 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Al's Gal
  • 2015 Canadian International - won by Cannock Chase and the 2015 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Curvy
  • 2014 Canadian International - won by Hillstar and the 2014 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Just the Judge
  • 2013 Canadian International - won by Joshua Tree and the 2013 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Tannery
  • 2012 Canadian International - won by Joshua Tree and the 2012 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Siyouma
  • 2011 Canadian International - won by Sarah Lynx and the 2011 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Miss Keller
  • 2010 Canadian International - won by Joshua Tree and the 2010 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Reggane
  • 2009 Canadian International - won by Champs Elysees and the 2009 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Lahaleeb
  • 2008 Canadian International - won by Marsh Side and the 2008 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Folk Opera
  • 2007 Canadian International - won by Cloudy's Knight and the 2007 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Mrs. Lindsay
  • 2006 Canadian International - won by Collier Hill and the 2006 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Arravale
  • 2005 Canadian International - won by Relaxed Gesture and the 2005 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Honey Ryder
  • 2004 Canadian International - won by Sulamani and the 2004 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Commercante
  • 2003 Canadian International - won by Phoenix Reach and the 2003 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Volga
  • 2002 Canadian International - won by Ballingarry and the 2002 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Fraulein
  • 2001 Canadian International - won by Mutamam and the 2001 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Choc Ice.
  • 2000 Canadian International - won by Mutafaweq and the 2000 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Fly For Avie.
  • 1999 Canadian International - won by Thornfield and the 1999 E.P. Taylor Stakes won by Insight.

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