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Owner Bob Cheema leads True Metropolitan and jockey Todd Kabel to the winner's circle after the Woodbine Slots Cups

The $150,000 Woodbine Slots Cup Stakes (G3), formerly known as the Autumn Stakes, is the final graded stakes of the year in Canada. Originally a field of eight was drawn but two scratched the morning of the race, leaving just six to contest the 1 1/16 miles over the Polytrack. Barracuda Boy was sent off as the 6-5 favorite off a five-race winning streak including the Durham Cup (G3) in his last start. Eccentric was one of three horses trained by Roger Attfield in the race, and was the 3-1 second choice off his win in the Fayette Stakes (G3) at Keeneland last time out. The 9-2 third choice was True Metropolitan, who was making his first Woodbine start after shipping in from Hastings Park in Vancouver. He won the Premier Handicap (G3) there in his last start, and picked up top local jockey Todd Kabel replacing his regular rider Quincy Welch. The only 3-year-old in the field was Queen's Plate winner Edenwold, the 6-1 fifth choice, trying to get a win against older company after finishing second in the Mt. Sassafras in his first attempt, last out. Clearly he was in this race to try to nail down the Sovereign Award for champion 3-year-old male, as the voting closes in six days' time.

First time by with Barracuda Boy and Just Rushing out front. They went on to finish last and next to last.

Favorite Barracuda Boy was quickest out of the gate under jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson and he battled on the pace with 5-1 Just Rushing through a quarter in 24.13 and a half in 47.09 over the "fast" Polytrack surface. Edenwold stalked the pace three lengths back in third, with True Metropolitan another length of a half back in fourth. Just Rushing took over the lead after 3/4 in 1:11.84, as Barracuda Boy tired badly and dropped back to an eventual last place finish. Around the far turn, Kabel took True Metropolitan out wide to put in his rally, passing the tiring pacesetters and grabbing the lead at the 1/4 pole. Through the stretch, True Metropolitan drew off to a 4 length win over late-running Edenwold, completing the trip in 1:44.88. It was just a length back to Eccentric in third. 15-1 longest shot Pellegrino was fourth.

 #  Horse                Jockey          Win  Place   Show
 4  True Metropolitan    Kabel         11.80   5.70   3.80
 6  Edenwold             Husbands              6.30   4.50
 5  Eccentric            Clark                        3.90

$2 Exacta  4-6            74.10
$2 Trifecta 4-6-5        221.20
Winning Time:  1:44.88

True Metropolitan in the winner's circle with owner Bob Cheema and trainer Terry Jordan. Winning trainer Terry Jordan said, "We sent him (to Woodbine) three weeks ahead of time to get him used to the climate and the track. He had never been on Polytrack. He's a very versatile horse. He's just four years old and coming to himself."

True Metropolitan heads out to the track before the race. Winning rider Todd Kabel said, "He's a very competitive, very versatile horse. You can do anything that you want with him, and he showed that today. He beat the best horses and he did it with authority. He's for real. I think the (Sovereign Award) voters are really going to have a good look at this horse."

Second place finisher Edenwold. (left)

Third place finisher Eccentric. (right)

Beaten favorite Barracuda Boy crosses the finish line in 6th and last place. Emma-Jayne Wilson, aboard beaten favorite and last place finisher Barracuda Boy said, "Cudie ran his race. He tried his heart out. True Metropolitan is a shoo-in for the (older male) Sovereign. It's good to see a western Canadian horse come in here and run well."

The Polytrack has been an issue with the horsemen at Woodbine in recent weeks, with increased kickback being a complaint from the jockeys. The kickback can be seen in this photo. Martin Collins, who manufactures the material, was at Woodbine this week to try to alleviate the problem, which was caused by an unexpected cold snap two weeks ago.

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