Stayers' Watch: Pattison Canadian International · 8.10.08

Two long-shots stole the show at Woodbine’s premier turf event, the Pattison Canadian International (Gr. 1T) on Saturday. Marsh Side (29-1) finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Spice Route (38-1), earning a guaranteed spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf through the “Win And You’re In” programme (assuming his connections first pay all entry fees, transport costs, etc., of course). Champs Elysees, winner of the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes in September, finished third. Pre-race favourite Doctor Dino finished a disappointing fifth.

Marsh Side stopped the clock at 2:28.73 for the 1 1/2 mile race on a “firm” E.P Taylor turf course.

Champion Stayer Award standings — update:

  1. Grand Couturier — 20
  2. Champs Elysees — 16
  3. Big Booster — 12 (6)
  4. Warning Zone — 12
  5. Interpatation — 11
  6. Da’ Tara — 10 (10)
  7. Marsh Side — 10
  8. Porfido — 9
  9. Evening Attire — 8 (8)
  10. On The Acorn — 8
  11. Cedar Mountain — 8

Marsh Side’s victory in the International gets him on the leader board with 10 points, while Champs Elysees’ third-place finish is enough to vault him into second place in the standings.

Turf horses are dominating the standings for the Award — as one might expect, considering that turf racing still places a greater emphasis on stamina than dirt. At this point, I have no problem with that. The Champion Stayer Award is intended for any horse that can demonstrate his/her ability over a distance, regardless of the track surface — just as, in theory at least, the Eclipse Award for Champion Sprinter can go to a horse who wins sprints on dirt, turf, or synthetic.

Nevertheless, it is dirt-based stamina that needs to be brought back into the mainstream of Thoroughbred breeding and racing. For that reason I’ve begun noting, in brackets, how many points horses have earned from dirt and synthetic races. Only three out of the top eleven horses show any points from those races — and Evening Attire’s retirement removes him from contention for year-end honours. Again, not surprising — but still disappointing. I am still hopeful that the new Breeders’ Cup Marathon and its related prep races will focus some much-needed attention on the remaining stamina bloodlines in North American racing.

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What do you think?

  1. Th fault in having no dirt stayers is two pronged:1) racing secretaries don’t write graded races at stamina evoking distances (the Display was the last one and it has gone by the wayside) and 2)Breeder’s
    then have NO idea where GRADED stakes stayers genes come from without the stage to test them against one another.

    Sad….We need another like Exterminator.

    — Dr. Timothy Yatcak · Oct 9, 09:34 AM · #

  2. Unfortunately, Exterminator was a gelding — so even if we do get a horse like him, it won’t help the breed. :-)
    What we need is one that can pass those stamina genes to his offspring: another Princequillo, or Stymie.

    — E-man · Oct 9, 11:16 PM · #

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