A field of 12, headed by the 3-1 morning line choice, Quijano, will contest the 70th running of the $2 million Pattison Canadian International (G1), Canada's richest horse race, Sunday at Woodbine Racetrack. The German-bred drew the outside post, and so far this year he has 5 wins in 7 starts, including victories in the Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) at Baden-Baden and the Dubai City of Gold (G3) at Nad al Sheba. Trainer Peter Schiergen said, “I've had him since he was a yearling. He was a very good 4-year-old (last year) and is even better this year. He comes from the back so he needs a fast pace.” Regular rider Andrasch Starke gets the call again in the International.
Leading the American contingent is Todd Pletcher trainee Sunriver at 8-1 from post 11. He finished second by a head in the Man o'War last time out at Belmont Park, after finishing a close fourth beaten just 1 length in the Arlington Million. Pletcher said, “I would think he would be prominently placed. He doesn't have to be on the lead. The distance shouldn't be a problem at all, he'll run 5 miles. Depending on how the ground comes up, we're pretty happy with him. He prefers a firmer course and he's an easy horse to train, very straightforward, professional, and sound.” Regular rider Garrett Gomez will be in the irons on Sunday.
Top local hope Sky Conqueror is the 4-1 second choice and drew post 4. The son of Sky Classic has 2 wins in 6 starts this year, including the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs and the Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf (G2) at home at Woodbine. Jockey Javier Castellano, who was aboard for the win on Kentucky Derby day, gets the call. Trainer Darwin Banach said, “We might be in a position where he will be overlooked after finishing third in the Nijinsky (G2) and then 8th (in the Woodbine Mile). It's a different role for him to be in. Usually everyone is thinking about his late jock and when he'll come charging. But he's not the type to overlook for a minute.”
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% 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. Last year, 11-1 shot Collier Hill held off 7-2 second choice Go Deputy by a nose after a thrilling stretch drive, while 5-2 favorite Kastoria finished a disappointing 8th.
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 10 headed by France's Mrs. Lindsay and Canada’s Triple Tiara winner Sealy Hill, and the $500,000 Nearctic Stakes (G2) also on the lawn, at 6 furlongs, with a field of 8, featuring Ecclesiastic and Heros Reward. 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 70th Canadian International.
| Post | Horse (Weight) | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
| 1 | Marsh Side (126 lbs.) | Michael Dickinson | Emma-Jayne Wilson | 30-1 |
| 2 | Oracle West (126 lbs.) | Michael de Kock | John Murtagh | 10-1 |
| 3 | Windward Islands (119 lbs.) | Mark Frostad | Todd Kabel | 20-1 |
| 4 | Sky Conqueror (126 lbs.) | Darwin Banach | Javier Castellano | 4-1 |
| 5 | Stream Of Gold (126 lbs.) | Kiaran McLaughlin | Eddie Castro | 15-1 |
| 6 | Irish Wells (126 lbs.) | Francois Rohaut | Olivier Peslier | 8-1 |
| 7 | Honolulu (119 lbs.) | Aidan O'Brien | Mick Kinane | 10-1 |
| 8 | Cloudy's Knight (126 lbs.) | Frank Kirby | Ramsey Zimmerman | 12-1 |
| 9 | Ask (126 lbs.) | Sir Michael Stoute | Ryan Moore | 6-1 |
| 10 | Linda's Lad (126 lbs.) | Eddie Kenneally | John Velazquez | 30-1 |
| 11 | Sunriver (126 lbs.) | Todd Pletcher | Garrett Gomez | 8-1 |
| 12 | Quijano (126 lbs.) | Peter Schiergen | Andrasch Starke | 3-1 |
