Redwood favored for Canadian International

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Redwood, winner of the Northern Dancer Stakes, has been made the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday's $2 million Canadian International at Woodbine Race Course.

The 1 1/2-mile turf race is one of three Breeders' Cup Challenge events on the program. The $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4- miles on the grass, and the six-furlong $500,000 Nearctic Stakes for older turf horses complete the threesome.

The winner of each race gains a spot in this year's Breeders' Cup card at Churchill Downs next month.

Redwood, owned by Juddmonte Farms, will start from post eight in the nine horse field. Trained by Barry Hills, the four-year-old colt will be ridden by Michael Hills.

Juddmonte Farms won last year's edition with Champs Elysees ridden by Garrett Gomez.

Redwood came from off the pace to win last month's Northern Dancer over Fifty Proof at Woodbine. The European based colt was the 9-5 favorite in the 1 1/2- mile turf race.

In 10 career starts, all on grass, Redwood has won four times for $675,189.

Here is the complete field for the Canadian International in post position order: Memorial Maniac, James Graham, 20-1; Chinchon, Garrett Gomez, 7-2; Mores Wells, Sebastien Maillot, 12-1; Simmard, Javier Castellano, 15-1; Al Ahali, Alan Garcia, 6-1; Marsh Side, Edgar Prado, 4-1; Joshua Tree, Colm O'Donoghue, 8-1; Redwood, Michael Hills, 2-1 and Fifty Proof, Justin Stein, 10-1.

All starters will carry 126 pounds except three-year-old colt Joshua Tree, who gets a four pound allowance.

The Canadian International has a scheduled post-time of 5:40 p.m. (et).

Lahaleeb returns to defend her crown in the E.P. Taylor Stakes. The four- year-old filly will break from post two in the 10 horse field.

Lahaleeb, who won as a 44-1 longshot last year, will be ridden by John Egan for owner Khalid Rahim and trainer Paul D'Arcy.

Post-time for the 1 1/4-mile race is set for 5:03 p.m. (et).

Field Commission is also back to defend his title in the Nearctic Stakes. The five-year-old chestnut horse will be ridden by Javier Castellano from the inside post. Also entered in the turf sprint are 2008 Canadian Horse of the Year Fatal Bullet and multiple stakes winner Grand Adventure.

The Nearctic is set to go off at 4:23 p.m. (et).