Photo Essay: Sarah Lynx, Regally Ready and Miss Keller shine on International Day

Sunday's Breeders' Cup Win & You're In card at Woodbine was a lucrative one for the winners - in terms of both the owners of Regally Ready, Miss Keller and Sarah Lynx, as well as the handicappers who correctly selected the trio in their wagers.

And they're off in the Pattison Canadian International


The $500,000 Grade 1 Nearctic Stakes was captured by Vinery Stables charge Regally Ready. The Steve Asmussen trainee went to post at odds of 9-1 returning $21.60, keying an exactor with favoured Bated Breath worth $79 and a triactor with locally-based long shot Gypsy Ring that paid $1,324.70

A $1 million-dollar smile from jockey Corey Nakatani


Miss Keller, conditioned by Roger Attfield and owned, in part, by Three Chimneys racing, won the Grade 1 $1,000,000 E.P Taylor Stakes at odds of 12-1 in a thrilling stretch duel. The Montjeu bay was all out to defeat I'm A Dreamer by a head, herself only a nose better than Dream Peace. The exactor was worth $265.30 and the tri paid $1,612.20.

I hope his prayers were answered!


Fantastic filly Sarah Lynx, ignored on the tote board at odds of 22-1, ran away from the field in the stretch to win the $1.5M Pattison Canadian International with ease under jockey Christophe Soumillon. Joshua Tree was up for place, two lengths the better of Treasure Beach. A generous exactor paid $659.50, while the triactor was worth an incredible $3,699.

Christophe Soumillon earned the trophy


There were rich payouts throughout the card as Woodbine's leading conditioner Mark Casse notched winners at odds of 20-1 (Locally Made ) and 7-1 (Queen of Bandini). Anyone who got even a piece of either the early Pick 4 which returned $9,389.65 for a buck, or the late Pick 4 which came up $28,658.75 for your dollar bill, walked away from the track with a wheel-barrow full of money.

The card was so challenging, that I've yet to meet the handicapper who doesn't have a bad-beat story for the day. My own heartbreak occured when I swung and missed in the final leg of the Pick 3 that started with Casse's 7-1 shot, improved with the 12-1 Miss Keller, and was blown to smithereens when Charlie's the Man (who was going to pay $800+) got nailed at the wire by Don Dulce. The winning P3 combo paid $1,372.45. Ouch.

At least I got a nice hat...


Despite that minor heartbreak, I thoroughly enjoyed the card of Grade 1 Turf races featuring interesting shippers from across the globe including equines such as Sarah Lynx, Bated Breath, Dream Peace and Treasure Beach, as well as top jockeys Julien Leparoux, John Velazquez, Joel Rosario, Christophe Soumillon, William Buick and many more.

Below are some of the many photos I snapped throughout the day of the stars that came to Woodbine.

As always, you can double-left click the photo to enlarge it and use your 'Back' button to return to the photo essay. Enjoy!

All alone on the turf...the champion Sarah Lynx


Sarah Lynx wins the Pattison Canadian International


And they're off!!


Rahystrada strides through the walking ring


Mikhail Glinka looking alert


The headstrong Kara's Orientation


Bronze Cannon never fired


Arctic Cosmos was the star of the paddock


William Buick focused aboard Arctic Cosmos


Musketier was best of the local hopefuls finishing sixth


Simmard stands tall in the walking ring


Treasure Beach bounces to the track


Sarah Lynx ready to shock the world


Sarah Lynx glides to victory


Ominous clouds above the winner's circle


Here comes your winner!


Away she goes under the lights at Woodbine



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A narrow win for the local hero, Miss Keller


Miss Keller wins the 2011 E.P Taylor Stakes


The magical Mekong Melody


Mike De Kock's trainee Mahbooba


Kinky Afro pulls a face


Strawberry Daiquiri mixes it up in the walking ring


Top trainer Jonathan Sheppherd keeps a watchful eye


Dyna Waltz dances through the walking ring


All we are saying, is give Dream Peace a chance


Dream Peace a picture of serenity


I'm A Dreamer floats through the walking ring


Miss Keller appears to be standing on just two legs!


Miss Keller surges to the lead


JV and MK


Head's up Miss Keller!


Miss Keller sash-ays to the winner's enclosure


Miss Keller battles her way to victory in the Grade 1 E.P Taylor Stakes


Miss Keller receives a cheer from the Woodbine grandstand


Trainer Roger Attfield parades his Grade 1 champion Miss Keller


Miss Keller reigns supreme


Team Miss Keller celebrates


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Regally Ready refuses to be caught!


Regally Ready wins the 2011 Nearctic Stakes


Not the Right One on this day!


Riding the River was adrift of the field on Sunday


Regally Ready would live up to his name


Jenny's so Great wasn't at her best


The plan did not go off without a Hitch-ens for this Euro invader


Gypsy Ring ready for a golden effort in the Nearctic


Local champ Fatal Bullet


Bated Breath in the famous Juddmonte silks


Regally Ready surges down the lane


Daen Lupul gets the good word from Corey Nakatani


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