Joshua Tree takes another Canadian International

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Joshua Tree, ridden by Frankie Dettori, set the pace and went on to win his second $1.5 million Canadian International at Woodbine Race Course. The 5-year-old ran the 1 1/2-miles in 2:30.89 on a turf course rated as 'good.'

Along with the International on Sunday were 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 on the turf. The winner of each race gained automatic entry into a corresponding Breeders' Cup event in November's World Championships at Santa Anita.

Trained by Marco Botti, Joshua Tree set the pace while being pressed by Air Support along with Lay Time and 9-5 favorite Imperial Monarch. Second in last year's International, Joshua Tree, the 4-1 co-second pick with Reliable Man, raced along the inside and came away with a half-length victory over 25-1 longshot Dandino.

Finishing third was Forte Dei Marmi followed by Wigmore Hall, Air Support, Imperial Monarch, Scalo, Reliable Man, Prince Will I Am and Lay Time.

While this is Joshua Tree's second International win, Dettori notched his third victory in the race, giving Botti and co-owners Khalid K. al Nabooda and Kamel Albahou their first International win.

"He is a great horse to us, very consistent and just a superstar for us," said Lucie Botti, wife of Marco Botti.

Dettori joins Robert Watson (1942-44) as the only three-time winning jockeys of the International. Dettori previously won the race aboard Mutafaweq (2000) and Sulamani (2004).

"Woodbine has been phenomenal for me," Dettori explained. "The E.P. Taylor (turf) has been very lucky. I have some great friends here, been coming for so many years. I just love the place, love the people. It's the best turf track in North America, so for us Europeans it makes life a lot easier, but also you need the horse that answers every call and he did for me. I was able to set my own fractions, but when I asked him to pick up, he did. He fought right to the line."

The 5-year-old horse earns $900,000 with his sixth victory in 24 lifetime starts. Joshua Tree has earned most of his money at Woodbine, although based in Europe. Of his $3,142,032 career earnings, $2,382,870 are from the three International starts.

Joshua Tree is now qualified for the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.

Joshua Tree returned $10.70, $6.10 and $4.40. Dandino paid $20.80 and $11.30, and Forte Dei Marmi paid $5.80 to show.

Post-time favorite Siyouma qualified for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf with a 1 3/4 length win in the $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes. The 4-year-old filly covered the 1 1/4-miles in 2:03.04 on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

Sent off as the 5-2 favorite in the 13-horse field, Siyouma was never far off the pace and rallied down the stretch to earn her fourth win in 10 career starts. Pagera, a 13-1 longshot, was second followed by 3-1 second choice Dream Peace, Kissable, Havant, Barefoot Lady, Moment of Majesty, All Star Heart, Stars to Shine, 9-2 third pick Princess Highway, Trois Lunes, Kapitale and Vamo a Galupiar.

Siyouma is trained by Francois Doumen for owner Robert Jeffcock. The filly earned $600,000 with the win and has now banked $849,115 lifetime. The Irish- bred filly won the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes on Sept. 29 at Newmarket in Great Britain.

Siyouma paid $7.70, $4.80 and $3.30. Pagera returned $11.50 and $6.90, and Dream Peace paid $3.10 to show.

Next Question, making his stakes debut, captured the $500,000 Nearctic over 10 rivals. Ridden by Ramon Dominguez, the 16-1 longshot defeated Night Carnation by a half-length and gained a place in next month's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Trained by Michael Trombetta, the 4-year-old gelding dueled with Bear Tough Tiger for most of the race and was able to take the lead at the top of the stretch and hold off Night Carnation, the 9-2 third pick. Bear Tough Tiger finished third.

Rounding out the order of finish were 5-2 favorite Big Band Sound, Stormy Rush, As de Trebol, Super Chunky, Hammers Terror, Grand Adventure, Fire Lily and Artic Fern.

Next Question toured the six-furlongs in 1:09.32 over a 'good' grass course.

"He is a horse with a lot of natural speed and when we left the gate and I saw the one (Bear Tough Tiger) trying to make the lead, I was excited about that," noted the winning rider. "I kind of wanted to rate and stalk, but my horse was really pulling me and taking me forward so I decided to just keep him together. I was very happy with how he relaxed and turning for home he gave me a pretty good kick."

The gelding, owned by Three Diamonds Farm, notched his second straight win and the third of his seven race career. The $300,000 winner's share boosts his lifetime earnings to $396,803.

Next Question returned $34.10, $15.30 and $10.70. Night Carnation paid $7.80 and $6.10, and Bear Tough Tiger paid $8.00 to show.