Canadian International: Olympic Hopeful Patrick Chan at Woodbine for Post-Position Draw

Canadian men's Olympic figure skating hopeful Patrick Chan assisted with the draw for the Pattison Canadian International this afternoon at Woodbine Racetrack. The 18-year-old world championship silver medallist charmed the assembled racing community in a light-hearted interview with track announcer Dan Loiselle.

Patrick Chan: Figure Skater, McDonald's Model, "Goofy"


Loiselle teased Chan about his well-recieved McDonald's commercial where Chan autographs a water bottle for a star-struck mother. When Loiselle commented that he went to four separate sold-out McDonald's looking for a water bottle, Chan quickly quipped, "I can't believe they sold any!"

Patrick Chan will be cutting down on the french fries in preparation for the Olympics


Throughout the interview, the teenager demonstrated composure beyond his years - something he'll need if he is to win gold at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics this February.

Dan Loiselle, Patrick Chan and Steve Lym sort out the post positions for the International


Perhaps the funniest moment of the draw arrived when Loiselle asked Chan to identify his biggest attribute as a figure skater. A dead-pan Chan replied, "My goofiness." After leaving the stage area a bit too soon, Chan demonstrated his off-beat sense of humour by strutting back to the podium with a swagger announcing into the microphone, "That was my model walk."

Th likeable Chan charmed the entire room and gave this reporter just one more reason to cheer for Canada in the upcoming Olympics. Mr. Chan, I salute you!

For more on the self-proclaimed goofy Patrick Chan, check out this Toronto Star interview.

Patrick Chan soars to the silver medal!


After all was said and done, here is the draw for Saturday's $2M Pattison Canadian International for Three-Year-Olds & Upward tried at One And One Half Miles on the Turf.

PP/Horse/Jockey/Trainer
1 Champs Elysees (GB) 6/H L G K Gomez 126 R J Frankel
2 Allied Powers (IRE) 4/C L1* J Crowley 126 M L Bell
3 Quijano (GER) 7/G A Starke 126 P Schiergen
4 Just as Well (KY) 6/H L J R Leparoux 126 J E Sheppard
5 Marsh Side (KY) 6/H L J Castellano 126 N D Drysdale
6 Buccellati (GB) 5/H L1* W T Buick 126 A Balding
7 Jukebox Jury (IRE) 3/C R L Ffrench 119 M S Johnston
8 Spice Route (GB) 5/G L J McAleney 126 R L Attfield

The lone Woodbine connection in the field will be the Roger Attfield trained Spice Route who finished second in this event last year. Spice Route will be steered by talented journeyman Jim McAleney from the outside post. The veteran turfer has three wins and two seconds at this distance and is fond of the E.P. Taylor turf course. Attfield, an eight-time winner of the Queen's Plate, has yet to win an International. YET.

Champs Elysees comes into this event from the bumper car Northern Dancer Stakes that saw Marsh Side disqualified and Just as Well elevated to the podium. Jockey Garrett Gomez believes Champs Elysees would have won that race if he were not impeded. The six-year-old son of Danehill has trained well up to this event and will be flying at the finish.

Allied Powers arrives from Ireland with a record of five wins, three seconds and four thirds from just 18 career starts. Trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Jim Crowley, the four-year-old son of Invincible Spirit finished second last out at Leopardstown to the well-regarded Poet. On paper, this is a marked step-up in class for a horse who has earned $170K thus far in his career.

Marsh Side was disqualified for a drifiting stretch run in the Northern Dancer Stakes


Quijano is a well-travelled seven-year-old gelding boasting 14 wins in 30 lifetime starts and earnings of more than $2.4M. Quijano was one of several horses impeded in the stretch run of the Northern Dancer Stakes, finishing third before the stewards moved him into place position. Assistant trainer Gisela Schiergen has been galloping the gelding in the mornings at Woodbine and Quijano, who has two seconds and third in four lifetime starts at Woodbine, will be as tough as ever on Saturday.

Pick a number!


Just as Well was awarded the spoils following Marsh Side's weaving stretch run in the Northern Dancer. Just as Well made a remarkable run in that event making up some ten lengths from the half. The rally was similar to his six-wide bid in the Arlington Million where he fell just short of Gio Ponti at the wire. This six-year-old son of A.P. Indy has been training at Presque Isle Downs and it would be no surprise to see this late-bloomer win this event flat out.

Just as Well up for place in the Arlington Million won by Gio Ponti


Marsh Side won the Northern Dancer but was placed fourth by the stewards. Last year, Marsh Side finished fourth in the Northern Dancer (won by Champs Elyees, Quijano was second) before going on to win the International at odds of 29-1. The Neil Drysdale trainee is listed at 7-2 in the morning line this year and jockey Javier Castellano will be looking to set things right after that troubled trip last out. It's worth noting that Marsh Side was freshened before that last race and has since put in two excellent works at Woodbine.

This is what it's all about...(well, this and the $2M!)


The Killer "B's", Buccellati, (trainer Andrew) Balding and (jockey William) Buick will attempt to buzz by the field late in this mile and a half turf tilt. Buccellati has three wins at the distance and has been preparing especially for this event. "He's done nothing but mature with age. We planned an autumn campaign for him and I believe this race is an ideal spot for him," advised Balding. The conditioner won this event previously with Phoenix Reach.

Jukebox Jury captures the Group 1 Preis Von Europa


Jukebox Jury has been listed as the 5-2 morning line favourite off of an impressive Group One victory in the Preis von Europa in Cologne. Ridden by Royston Ffrenche, three-year-old Jukebox Jury knocked off both Eastern Anthem and Eliot in that mile and a half event for three-year-olds and upward. Prior to that race, Jukebox Jury beat older foes in the Group Two Grand Prix de Deauville. Both races were won by a nose. This cardiac kid has a real sense of timing and will be a force to be reckoned with down the lane.

Marsh Side wins the 2008 Pattison Canadian International


Also announced this afternoon were the post-positions for the E.P. Taylor and Nearctic Stakes. All three races are part of the Breeders' Cup Win & You're In series. Check back throughout the week for more on all three races.

STAKES Nearctic S. (Grade II)
Purse $500,000.For Three-Year-Olds And Upward. Six Furlongs.(Turf)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 Field Commission (ON) 4/C L J R Leparoux 119 D J Vella
2 Silver Z (CA) 7/M L* R C Landry 114 N Wallis
3 Grand Adventure (KY) 3/C L P Husbands 115 M R Frostad
4 Karakorum Elektra (NY) 5/M L E Ramsammy 114 L Rice
5 Legal Move (ON) 5/H L C Sutherland 117 M Fournier
6 Little Nick (FL) 4/G L R Bejarano 117 A Iwinski
7 Chamberlain Bridge (KY) 5/G L G K Gomez 119 W B Calhoun
8 Bogue Chitto (FL) 5/G L G Olguin 117 I Howard
9 Heros Reward (MD) 7/G L* J Castellano 119 D Capuano
10 Storm Treasure (KY) 6/H L L Contreras 117 S M Asmussen
11 Jungle Wave (KY) 4/G L T Kabel 121 S C Attard


STAKES E. P. Taylor S. (Grade I)

Purse $1,000,000. For Fillies And Mares, Three-Year-Olds And Upward. One And One Fourth Miles. (Turf)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 Treat Gently (GB) 4/F L G K Gomez 124 R J Frankel
2 Rainbow View (KY) 3/F L1* J R Leparoux 118 J H Gosden
3 Lahaleeb (IRE) 3/F W T Buick 118 M R Channon
4 Eastern Aria (UAE) 3/F L1* R L Ffrench 118 M S Johnston
5 Princess Haya (TX) 4/F L R Bejarano 124 M R Matz
6 Look Here (GB) 4/F L1* J Crowley 124 R Beckett
7 Roses 'n' Wine (ON) 4/F L C Sutherland 124 D R Bell
8 Salve Germania (IRE) 4/F L J Castellano 124 T A Pletcher