TORONTO, October 21 – Sir Evelyn De Rothschild’s Hillstar, brilliantly ridden by champion jockey Ryan Moore, collared the leaders turning for home and went on to post a three-quarters of a length win over Big Blue Kitten in the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International Sunday at Woodbine. Woodbine track photographer Mike Burns, a multiple Sovereign Award winner, captured all the drama of a day that included a devastating turn of foot from Caspar Netscher in the Grade 2 $300,000 Nearctic Stakes; a sparkling return from a layoff for Native Bombshell in the $150,000 Grade 3 Ontario Fashion; and a perfectly-timed ride by Jamie Spencer aboard Just The Judge in the $500,000 Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International. Let’s take a look at all the incredible moments of a memorable Canadian International card at Woodbine! First time starter Still Krz got the 11-race card started in style! Hillaby ran away from the fourth race field to start the first of two Pick 4s! The PCI went as Race 6 in front of a national TV audience on TSN! The Pizza Man takes the field into the turn… On delivery! The Pizza Man cooking on the front end… Big Blue Kitten clawed at Hillstar’s lead down the lane to no avail… The powerful Hillstar, with Ryan Moore up, would not be denied… Hillstar victorious! Happy connections lead Hillstar in… Sir Evelyn de Rothschild and Ryan Moore all smiles… Up next was the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes and British-bred Caspar Netscher, with jockey Andrew Mullen aboard for the first time, came flying between horses late for win! Read the full recap with race replay at this link. Caspar Netscher emerges from the crowd!A smile on the face of Andrew Mullen as Caspar Netscher hits his stride… A hair-raising performance by Caspar Netscher! Race Eight brought the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes won by a determined Native Bombshell, off almost a year-long layoff, by a narrow neck over Disco Barbie who rallied well off a troubled trip. Sheer focus on the face of Patrick Husbands aboard Native Bombshell One-two finishers almost in sync approaching the wire… In Race 10, the Favoured Just The Judge, with Jamie Spencer aboard, held off Odeliz in deep stretch to win the $510,000 Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes. At the finish of the mile and one-quarter turf classic for fillies and mares, Just The Judge proved a half-length to the good, crossing the line in 2:03.47. A full recap and race replay available at this link. Just The Judge strains for the wire as Odeliz rallies valiantly on the outside Jamie Spencer gets aerodynamic on Breeders’ Cup bound Just The Judge The E.P. Taylor belonged to Just The Judge… …but the day belonged to Hillstar! Congratulations to all the competitors on a fantastic Canadian International day card! Live racing returns to Woodbine on Wednesday night. Post time 6:45PM. Share This:Share
