2001 Canadian International and E.P. Taylor Stakes - Horse Racing

Horse Racing

Filed In:

Horse Racing

Post Position Draw

Dateline: 09/27/01

On Thursday, the post positions were drawn for the 64th running of the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine. The prestigious race, the sixth leg of the Emirates World Series Championship, will be run on Sunday September 30, with the field of twelve going to post at 4:40 p.m. ET.

Kylie Bax, Jerome Williams, and Chris Evans

Assisting racing secretary Chris Evans with the proceedings were honorary drawmasters Jerome "Junk Yard Dog" Williams of the Toronto Raptors, and Sports Illustrated supermodel Kylie Bax. Williams spoke of his re-signing with the Raptors, saying, "I'm looking forward to a great season. We have a great team in a great city and a great country to play for." Bax is not only a supermodel with numerous magazine and movie appearances but is also a prominent horse breeder, having been raised on a thoroughbred horse farm in her native New Zealand. She owns a 100-acre farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and two of her yearlings were sold at the Keeneland July Select sale for $120,000 each.

Kylie Bax gets into the draw

"I started modelling because I wanted to earn the money, become successful, so I can own my own farms in Kentucky and New Zealand. In racing I would like to breed a horse that wins the Kentucky Derby."

The 3-1 morning line favorite, Mutamam, drew the outside post 12. Assistant trainer Wayne Tanner said, "He's in great form. There's been no problems. He shipped well. He just had a walk the first day, a walk and trot yesterday and did one canter this morning. He likes to run close to the pace." Richard Hills gets the call for owner Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum.

Mutamam, the morning line favorite

Second choice on the board is Sam-Son Farm entrant Strut the Stage at 4-1, coming off a very close second place finish to Startac in the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington. Trainer Mark Frostad said, "Post four is not a problem, that's a good post position. Not that going a mile and one-half presents much a problem anyway. It just means going to the first turn you are in good position. If you've got a good enough horse, [the 3-year-old weight allowance] makes a difference. He's coming into the race great." Regular jockey Todd Kabel will ride.

Daliapour, third in last year's Canadian International

Third choice is 9-2 shot Daliapour, who finished third last year in this event, drew the five hole. Sir Michael Stoute's assistant Jimmy Scott said, "In Hong Kong, they were running the horse over shorter distances. There were no races for him really. I don't think that suited him. He's definitely fit enough to get the mile and one-half and if the turf stays the way it is now, that will be fine." Johnny Murtagh ships in from England for the mount.