Las Vegas, NV – The Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International Stakes comes our way from
Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario this Sunday, October 27. Horses three years old and upward
will be featured as they go 1 1/2 miles on Woodbine’s turf track for a very nice purse of $1
million.
The Pattison International has attracted a strong field of 11 older horses to go in race 10 on
Woodbine’s Sunday card. Post time is 5:44 PM> Here is a brief glance into the credentials of all
11 combatants for this lucrative Grade 1 stakes
Forte Dei Marmi – defending third place finisher in this race enters in superb form
– off three consecutive stakes scores on this track – the Grade 1 Northern Dancer last time
out September 15, the Grade 2 Sky Classic by 2 1/2 lengths and the Grade 3 Singspiel by 6 1/
4 lengths July 7. This after an ugly ninth in the Grade 2 Dixie and a DNF in the Elkhorn. He did
place in three straight graded stakes around this time last year but has takes his game to a
completely different level lately. Forte Dei Marmi is tough to beat when running well and that
is precisely what he is doing right now for trainer Roger Attfield. He is the 3-1 favorite on the
morning line and rightfully so. Forte Dei Marmi will have Eurico Rosa Da Silva in the irons from
post 8 aboard his first International mount.
Slumber – Bill Mott pupil had two wins, a second and two third place finishes in
eight starts in Great Britain before debuting in North America in November with a fourth in
the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby. In 2013 he has three starts – two Allowance Optional Claiming
scores at Saratoga and an OK fourth last time out in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Invitational at
Belmont Park September 28. He has looked OK – enough to be listed as the 4-1 second choice.
Mike Smith will get the call from the far outside post Sunday.
Hyper – Chad Brown entry has 21 career starts with 10 wins, five seconds and two
third place finishes. He is coming off his best career performance – a win in the Grade 2 Bowling
Green Handicap at Belmont Park September 7 after a win in the minor John’s Call Stakes at
Saratoga July 31 and a very nice second to London Lane in his graded stakes debut – the Grade
2 Colonial Turf Cup in June. He also had a good second behind Teaks North in the minor Good
Reward Stakes at Belmont Park May 14, a third in the Dave Stakes at Aqueduct in April and
an Allowance Optional Claiming score in March. He has placed in seven straight ahead of the
Pattison and rides an impressive two race win streak into this weekend. He departs from the
rail Sunday at 5-1 odds with Joel Rosario aboard.
Joshua Tree – defending champion in this race also raced in the 2010 edition of this
race and won in his first start on North American soil – the only other was a second at the 2011
version of this race. He comes to North America for one race – this one and he has two wins
and a second in three tries at this event – impressive indeed. He has five starts in Europe this year with a second in the Gr. 2 Darley Prix Kergorlay at Deauville August 18 and a third place
finish, Last time out was a thirteenth in the Gr. 1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamps
October 6. He hasn’t been great this year but loves this stage. He departs from post 5 at 6-1
odds Sunday.
Lucayan – French bred colt and Group 1 winner in her native land made his North
American debut with a very nice second in the Grade 2 American Handicap May 25 right behind
Obviously after eight starts in France produced three wins and two second place finishes
including a win at 27-1 odds in the group 1 French 2000 Guineas May 13, 2012 at Longchamp.
He has failed to place in his last three at home before shipping to North America before his
second in the American Handicap. He has looked very good as of late – a third last time out in
the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship here September 29 after a nice second in the Grade
2 Del Mar Handicap August 25 and a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming August 1. He now
has three wins, four seconds and two third place finishes in 13 career starts. Lucayan will depart
from post 3 at 8-1 odds Sunday.
Seismos – Irish bred gelding makes his North American debut Sunday but had an
win and a second in Gr. 1 races in Europe this summer – the second in the Longines – Grosser
Preis von Baden – Super-Dreierwette mit 20.000 Euro Garantieauszahlung September 1 and the
win in the Grosser Preis von Bayern in August. Last time out was a sixth in the Gr. 1 Qatar Prix
du Cadran October 6. He has 17 career starts with five wins, three seconds and a third place
finish and brings some flavor into the Pattison. He goes off at 10-1 odds from post 9.
Perfect Timber – Another Roger Attfield trainee has just six career starts but is
coming off a career-best effort – a second in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer behind Fort Dei
Marmi to follow a career worst performance – a sixth in the Grade 2 Sky Classic here August
18. Before that was a good second in the Grade 2 Singspiel behind Forte Dei Marmi as well and
an Allowance score. He has looked good in his limited action but has to get by his old nemesis
Forte Dei Marmi again. Perfect Timber is 12-1 on the morning line and will have John Velazquez
in the reigns from post 4.
Temeraine – is coming off his best career win in the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup
September 14 after a respectable fifth in the Grade 1 Arlington Millions August 17, a very nice
second behind Rahystrata in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap and three straight Allowance
Optional Claiming races – one of them producing a win March 27 for trainer Tom Proctor. His
other graded stakes start was an eleventh in the Grade 3 River City Handicap at Churchill Downs
in November. But Temeraine has looked very good the last three months and rides a huge wave
of confidence into the Pattison. He goes off at 15-1 odds and lines up in post 2 Sunday.
Pattison Canadian International Stakes betting at Woodbine Racetrack with OffTrackBetting.com
Stormy Len – has looked good this year in placing in six of eight starts but is coming
off his worst effort of the year – a sixth in the Grade 1 Jamaica handicap at Belmont Park
October 5. Before that was a decent third in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer behind Forte Dei
Marmi and Perfect Timber September 15 after a pair of good results at Arlington Park – a
second to Admirable Kitten in the Grade 1 Secretarial August 17 and a third in the Grade 3 American Derby July 13. He had looked good before his disappointment last time out placing in
six straight but is 20-1 on the morning line based on his last race.
Now We Can – British bred colt makes his North American debut Sunday. He had a
five race win streak snapped in August – the best being the Gr. 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly in June
but has not looked good since. Two starts yielded a ninth and a seventh respectively in a pair of
Group 2 races overseas. He is 20-1 on the morning line and hopes to regain the form that saw
him one of the hottest colts in Europe.
Irish Mission – Canada’s top 3-year-old filly last year hasn’t looked great this year
for trainer Mark Frostad. Last time out was an OK fourth in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer after
a fifth in the Grade 2 Sky Classic and an Allowance score here July 24. She had some success
earlier this year – a third in the Grade 3 Orchid at Gulfstream and a second in the Grade 2
Nassau on this track and she did win the Breeders’ Stakes in Canada last year among her
three victories in 2012 – so we know that she can run with the best. She is listed at 20-1 on the
morning line and leaves from post 10.
