Romans set for Canadian International with O'Prado Ole

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Eclipse Award winning trainer Dale Romans will saddle O'Prado Ole versus eight other turf runners in Sunday's $1 million Canadian International to be run over Woodbine's E. P. Taylor turf course at 1 1/2 miles.

Owned by Donegal Racing, O'Prado Ole will be making his first start at Woodbine in the International with the chance to claim his initial stakes victory.

Coming into Sunday the 4-year-old chestnut colt had a second-place finish in Arlington Park's Stars and Stripes behind International contender The Pizza Man as a 13-1 longshot. After finishing fourth to Main Sequence in Belmont Park's Sword Dancer he had a fourth-place result in the Kentucky Turf Cup to Suntracer, another International starter.

"He's a horse that's running well. His second at Arlington proved he could be a stakes horse running marathon distances. He'll find a group he can outrun," said Romans. "I think he can be a victim of pace at times. He's not one to control a race but if the pace goes right for him he's going to be tough."

O'Prado Ole has banked $128,211 with two wins in 12 starts.

Local trainer Mark Casse will have Dynamic Sky starting the International for owner John Oxley. Dynamic Sky will be reunited with jockey Patrick Husbands.

The 4-year-old colt is coming off a second in Woodbine's Northern Dancer as a 24-1 longshot behind Sheikhzayedroad.

"I wasn't quite sure what to expect," said Casse, of the Northern Dancer. "I was very disappointed in the previous start (fifth in the Sky Classic). I expected him to win that race. I knew he had it in him to run a good race in the Northern Dancer, so we were very pleased with his effort."

Dynamic Sky was fifth in the Sky Classic at 5-2. In his first two 2014 stakes efforts he was third in the Singspiel and second in the Nijinsky, both at Woodbine.

In 18 starts, Dynamic Sky has four wins, four seconds and four thirds for $703,738.

Here are the nine probable International starters with jockeys: Big Blue Kitten, Joel Rosario; Brown Panther, Richard Kingscote; Dynamic Sky, Patrick Husbands; Hillstar, Ryan Moore; O'Prado Ole, TBA; Reporting Star, Justin Stein; Suntracer, Carlos Marquez Jr.; The Pizza Man, Florent Geroux and War Dancer, Luis Contreras.

The International will have an approximate post time of 3:32 p.m. ET and will be aired live on TSN.