Horse Racing – Joshua Tree wins Canadian International
Irish thoroughbred and Breeders Cup odds favorite, Joshua Tree held off two other European raiders, Mores Wells and Redwood, to win the Grade 1, $2-million Canadian International at Woodbine Saturday.
The win assured Joshua Tree a trip to the Breeder’s Cup Turf race at Churchill Downs next month.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Joshua Tree lost a shoe in the paddock, which delayed the start of the mile and a half turf event for six minutes, but it didn’t bother him in the race.
Joshua Tree, ridden by Irish jockey Colm O’Donoghue, was fourth once the horses got to the backstretch, then aimed for Fifty Proof early in the stretch, and he overtook that rival at the sixteenth pole and briefly took control. He appeared to hang in deep stretch, but got home on top by a head over 20-1 shot Mores Wells, in a time of 2:32.72.
Redwood, the 2-1 favorite, finished another nose back in third, and a half-length in front of Al Khali in fourth. The order of finish was completed by Fifty Proof, Chinchon, Simmard, Marsh Side, and Memorial Maniac.
O’Donoghue said he had an ideal trip in the Win and You’re In event for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
“He broke really well, got a good position early, and settled down well into the race on the backstretch,” O’Donoghue said. “The pace started to pick up from about a half-mile out, and he got into the best position in the race. The horse on my outside fell away, and he quickened up really well, and ran strong to the line. Obviously, he was prepared for today. He was trained perfectly for the race.”
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