Cloudy’s Knight hangs on to win Canadian International

Toronto, ON  - Cloudy’s Knight, making his third straight start at Woodbine, held off 5-2 favorite Ask to capture Sunday’s 70th running of the $2 million Canadian International. In the supporting $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes, 7-5 favorite Mrs. Lindsay caught Sealy Hill to win the 1 1/4 mile grass race.

The Canadian International, won by Secretariat in 1973, is a major turf event for thoroughbreds not entered in Breeders’ Cup races. A full field of 12 was entered with European horses getting most of the attention.

Cloudy’s Knight was coming off a one-length win at Woodbine in the Sky Classic Stakes after placing second in the Nijinsky here. The betting public sent off the seven-year-old gelding as an 18-1 longshot.

The pace in the 1 1/2 mile turf race was set by Marsh Side with Sunriver running second and Cloudy’s Knight racing third up the backstretch. Marsh Side continued to set the pace around the turn for home before giving way at the top of the stretch.

Cloudy’s Knight, ridden by Ramsey Zimmerman, took the lead in mid-stretch and was able to hold off Ask. Trained by Frank Kirby, Cloudy’s Knight was able to prevail by a nose over Ask with 3-1 morning-line favorite Quijano finishing a length back in third.

The time for the 1 1/2 miles was 2:27.71 on a firm turf course.

Completing the order of finish was Stream of Gold, Oracle West, Sunriver, Sky Conqueror, Honolulu, Windward Islands, Irish Wells, Linda’s Lad and Marsh Side.

The win, worth $1.2 million, pushes Cloudy’s Knight’s career earnings to more than $2 million. Owned by S J Stables, the winner has won 10 of 32 career starts, with a victory earlier this year in the Fair Grounds Breeders’ Cup Handicap.

Cloudy’s Knight returned $38.70, $11.50 and $7.60. Ask paid $5.40 and $3.40, and Quijano paid $4.50 to show.

Mrs. Lindsay, ridden by John Murtagh, fought back to retake the lead from Sealy Hill to win the E.P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares. The time for the 1 1/4 miles was 2:00.68 on the grass.

Sealy Hill, the Canadian Triple Tiara champion, passed the eventual winner in mid-stretch, but was unable to hang on for the victory. Mrs. Lindsay posted a half-length win as she set a new stakes record.

Barancella, who was second in last year’s E.P. Taylor, finished third followed by The Niagara Queen, Sans Souci Island, Essential Edge, Hostess, Four Sins, Safari Queen and Elle Runaway.

Mrs. Lindsay paid $4.80, $2.90 and $2.50. Sealy Hill returned $4.70 and $3.20, and Barancella paid $3.20 to show.

Mrs. Lindsay is a Pennsylvania-bred three-year-old owned by Mrs. Bettina Jenney and trained by Francois Rohaut. In her last start she won the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp in France.

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