Handicapper's Corner: 2021 Pattison Canadian International (G1)

 Euro Invaders strong in Pattison Canadian International

By: Nick Costa, Trackside with Trackman

After a year hiatus due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Pattison Canadian International returns to Woodbine Racetrack. The Grade 1 $600,000 International, one of Woodbine’s top fall races, is a 1 1/2-mile grass journey that has an impressive list of notable winners, including the legendary Secretariat.

The 1973 American Triple Crown champion capped off his illustrious career with a dominant 6 ½-length victory. The margin of victory by “Big Red’ held as a record until 2017 when Bullards Alley won the International by 10 ¾-lengths.

This year’s edition features a field of eight competitors, headlined by defending champion, Desert Encounter, who’s shooting to become a three-time Canadian International winner. The nine-year old is only one of two horses to win consecutive editions of the International, and now looks to match Joshua Tree, the other back-to-back winner who also won it in 2010.

Billed as race nine on a 12-race card which also features the G1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile, a 2021 Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge Series race with automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Mile on November 6th at Del Mar, the Canadian International is slated for 5:35 pm. Let’s have a look at the field from the rail out.

No.- Horse - Jockey/Trainer – ML

1. Corelli – Kazushi Kimura/Jonathan Thomas – 4-1 – Former European campaigner whose highlight of his first season in North America last year was a third-place finish in the G1 United Nations. Became a stakes winner in his seasonal debut in 2021 winning a listed event at Pimlico and added a graded win last out when running his best race beating rivals here in the G3 Singspiel. He could factor in here.

 

2. Walton Street – Lanfranco Dettori/Charles Appleby – 8-5 - Euro invader exits a pair of Group 1’s where he performed admirably, and before that he won a Group 2 event. The Godolphin-owned runner excels at this distance with four wins, two seconds and three third-place finishes from 11 starts. Dangerous contender.

 

3. Desert Encounter – Daniel Tudhope/David Simcock – 3-1 - Won back-to-back editions of this event in 2018 and 2019. His victory here in ’19 was the last time he has visited a winner’s circle, encompassing a two-year span of 15 races. The multiple graded turf specialist prepped for this race with a runner-up finish as Royal Windsor last month. Given the overall opposition he’s competed against in Europe, a return here to Canada to defend his Canadian International title appears to be a class relief.

 

4. Bluegrass Parkway – Patrick Husbands/Michael Maker – 10-1 - This five-year old rallied from last place to win the 10-furlong Ellis Park Turf Cup last month. That was his first appearance in a stakes race in over two years during which time he was earning small checks in allowance company. Doubt he can make a successful jump in class to have an impact against top level company.

 

5. Primo Touch – Daisuke Fukumoto/Harold LaDouceur – 20-1 - Wired an allowance optional claiming field group eight days ago, winning by five lengths. Has made 38 career starts, but his only graded appearance came two back where he was fifth in the G3 Singspiel. Appears outclassed.

 

6. Fantasioso – Joel Rosario/Ignacio Correas – 8-1 - The two-time Group 3 winner from Argentina hasn’t fared well in graded stakes company since coming to the United States, finishing far back in 3 of 4 events. Did manage to rally up for a second-place in the G2 Belmont Gold Cup Stakes two back, but last out when lowered in class to a listed event, he was all-out in the stretch to grab the show spot. He’ll have to improve a ton here off that last effort to be competitive.

 

7.  Belichick – Luis Contreras/Josie Carroll – 6-1 - Hometown runner has never missed a top-three placing in nine career starts. His lone turf win came last year in the Breeders’ Stakes over this course when he broke maiden ranks with a convincing four-length score, preventing his stable mate, Mighty Heart, from capturing the Triple Crown. Adaptable run style allows him to be placed anywhere in the pack.

 

8.  English Conqueror – Antonio Gallardo/Darwin Banach – 15-1 - Local horse is a maiden winner who has done well when pitted against stakes rivals. Was third in the last year’s Breeders’ Stakes to close out his season and last out, he rallied nicely to grab the place spot in the G3 Singspiel. However, this level of stakes competition is a whole new challenge.

 

ANALYSIS

European invaders have won nine of the last 10 editions of the Canadian International.

2.  Walton Street makes his first trip across the Atlantic for world class connections who are accustomed to winning Group 1/Grade 1 races. The seven-year-old exits a quality race where he finished third after leading through most of the 1 ½-miles event over good turf. The runner-up from that contest returned to win a Group 1 affair, so the form looks good. He has plenty of positives in his corner and is our top call.

 

3.  Desert Encounter looks to put an end to a 0 for 15 losing streak since last winning here in 2019. The elder stateman, most experienced and leading money earner of the group appears to be rounding back into form after finishing second last out at Royal Windsor behind a good filly who is possibly heading to the G1 Arc de Triomphe. Trainer David Simcox has an excellent record (13–5-1-3) with stakes horses at Woodbine.

 

7. Belichick can certainly be labeled as a ‘horse for course’ with a top three finish in all four of his Woodbine turf starts, including winning at this very distance in last year’s Breeders’ Stakes. He can lay close with a stalking style or put in a good sustain from off the pace, but either style will need perfect timing.

 

1.  Corelli received an excellent ride in the Singspiel, getting over from the outside post for a ground saving trip before accelerating through the stretch to win. Drew the rail post and should receive a similar trip without expending too much early effort. However, this a tougher group.

 

WAGER

$10 trifecta key: Walton Street over the other three horses listed 2/1,3,7 ($60).

$10 exacta box: Walton Street-Desert Encounter 1-2 ($20)  

$5 exactas: Walton Street and Desert Encounter over Belichick and Corelli 2,3/1,7 ($20)

Good luck, and as always, enjoy the race!