2006 Canadian International Entries

A field of 10, headed by the 5-2 morning line choice, Go Deputy, will contest the 69th running of the $2 million Pattison Canadian International (G1), Canada's richest horse race, Sunday at Woodbine Racetrack. Go Deputy, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, comes off a solid second-place finish to Cacique in the Man O’ War Stakes at Belmont Park and will break from post 7.

Go Deputy has been very consistent this year, winning three of eight starts this year, including the Sword Dancer at Saratoga and hasn’t been worse than third in his last nine outings. Pletcher said of his first-ever International starter, "I think he ran a huge race (in the Man O’ War). Cacique got through on the inside and we had to go around a few horses, but he just got beat. Showing Up (who finished third, a nose behind Go Deputy) is a really nice horse, too."

There are three local hopefuls entered as well - Sky Conqueror, pegged as the 4-1 second choice, Jambalaya and Last Answer - each seeking to become the first Canadian-bred to win the turf race since Thornfield in 1999. The others were Chief Bearhart (1997), Sky Classic (1991), He’s A Smoothie (1967) and George Royal (1965 and 1966).

Sky Conqueror has won three of his five starts this year, including the Northern Dancer Stakes at the same distance, and drew the rail. The four-year-old chestnut son of 1991 winner Sky Classic tuned up for Sunday’s race by winning a one mile allowance on October 8. Sky Conqueror has earned a total of $791,295 and will be ridden by six-time Sovereign Award winner, Todd Kabel, who has won virtually every major stakes race at Woodbine during his career, except the International. Trainer Darwin Banach said, "Sky Conqueror just seems to rise to the occasion and does whatever is necessary to get the job done. He wants to win. He overcomes things. He went through a lot when he was sick last year. Forget about that he’s become a great racehorse – that just comes along with it. I’m very proud of how he’s changed. The racing end of it just fell into place."

9-2 third choice Kastoria will try to become just the sixth filly or mare to win the International since 1958. Trained by John Oxx the five-year-old daughter of Selkirk arrives from Ireland after defeating heavy favorite Yeats in the Irish St. Leger Stakes at The Curragh. She will break from post 2 with regular rider Mick Kinane aboard. Assistant trainer Jimmy O’Neill said, "She’s in great form. She’s picking herself up every day, every day she’s getting a little bit brighter. The going won’t make any difference, firm or soft. She’s run a mile and a half very well before. We’re hoping for a big run. Where she fits in, we’re not really sure."

Defending champion Relaxed Gesture seeks to become just the second horse to win back-to-back Internationals since it became a turf race in 1958. Trained by Christophe Clement and to be ridden by Garrett Gomez, Relaxed Gesture’s best race this year was a second-place finish to Cacique in the Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park, over a yielding course. Assistant trainer Christophe Lorieul said, "The horse is doing great. He’s always doing better in the cold weather. He’s a chestnut horse. They don’t like the heat too much, but his coat looks really shiny. We’ll try to take another shot and see what happens." He drew the outside post 10 and is 10-1 on the morning line.

The stakes and course record for 1 1/2 miles over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course is 2:25.60, set by Raintrap in 1994. The largest winning margin still belongs to the incomparable Secretariat, when 'Big Red' coasted home by 6 1/2 lengths in his farewell appearance in 1973. He is also the shortest-priced winner in history, paying $2.40. Favorites have won the International 41.66% of the time since 1958, with the last to do so being Sulamani, the 4-5 choice in 2004 and before him, Chief Bearhart in 1997.

Also on Sunday’s sparkling Woodbine card is the $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1) for fillies and mares, at 1 1/4 miles on the grass, which has drawn a field of 11 headed by England’s Red Bloom and Canada’s Arravale, and the $500,000 Nearctic Stakes (G2) also on the lawn, at 6 furlongs, with a full field of 13, topped by Atticus Kristy, Moss Vale and Around the Cape. The race will be televised on simulcast across North America and on The Score in Canada in a special 2 hour telecast starting at 2:30PM ET.

Below are the entries for the 69th Canadian International.