Pattison Canadian International (Grade 1)- $800.000 Purse
WO- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Turf
October 13, 2018
Taniwha has already well established himself as one of the top turf routers in the game right now. That was done with a style that has him running near the back most of the way, and doing his best work in the stretch. He generally stays about five lengths or so off the lead, but today would be different. It’s not unprecedented for Taniwha to go to the front, he won the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes like that last year, it is just not what we were expecting. Here, he would run second early, and would continue to run strong all the way to the wire, picking up the big win for trainer Aml Racing. It is their first win in the stake. Aboard the winner was none other then F Pennington, who also gets his first Pattison win. Each will be wishing the purse was at its older levels, but will be happy with their earnings here. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 2:25.07, a little slower then recent times on firm turf (the last two Pattison’s were on off tracks), but it was all that was needed. Let’s take a look at it!
(½ Mile- :48.87)- Out of the gate, both Friday Thirteenth (Nakamura Stables) and Built Like A Rock (TwinTowersRacing) battle one another hard to get the early advantage before Built Like A Rock ultimately calls off that pursuit, and opts for a stalking trip. The eventual winner, Taniwha was also good out of the gate for Aml Racing, and as they made their way around the opening turn, he would settle into a position a length off the pace. On the rail, Sinister Sunset (Team 7 Illusions) was right there with them. Bayou Quartier ran fifth for Invictsa Group Llc, and was two lengths out of it. Behind him, would be the pack. Bring The Pain (Mb Stables) would run towards the inside, with his stable Ingrained, as well as Tried It (Joshua Stables) running in the outside lanes behind him. Within a lane, Sports Car (Mb Stables) kept his stablemates in close proximity. Midwestern Slang (Gdp Inc) was about five wide while rounding the outside turn, and it wasn’t much better for Not My Idea (Wolfs Den) who was just to his inside. Purely Perfect (Night Rider Stables) was towards to back, though on the rail. The trailers would be last year’s winner, Major Weiner, from Night Rider Stables, and Faith In The Surge (Fractious).
(3/4 Mile- 1:12.88)- At the front, we did not see much change in the way the field ran during this segment of the race. Friday Thirteenth continued to show the way and lead by a length, while Taniwha and Built Like A Rock ran side by side for second, and waiting for their time to strike. Sinister Sunset and Bayou Quartier each maintained their positions in a patient manner as well. Bring The Pain was still sixth, but had some action setting up to his outside, as Not My Idea became the first of those near the back to try and made a move as he looked to split Bring The Pain and Ingrained. Ingrained responded to that challenge well, showing his desire to move. To the outside, Tried It was holding his position while Midwestern Slang continued to run in the outermost lane. Sports Car held his ground, but potentially had a good lane opening up for him along the rail when they moved into the turn. The rest of the three were not showing much quite yet.
(Top Of Stretch, 2F To Go)- As they finish up the backstretch run and move into the turn, Friday Thirteenth begins to pack it in. This leaves what had been a side by side battle for second between Taniwha and Built Like A Rock to now be the battle for the lead. They went at one another pretty good around the turn, neither letting up, and were a length ahead of the rest of the field as they hit the top of the stretch. Sinister Sunset, another horse who had been running near the front most of the way, also looked like he had enough at this point, and would also drop out of it. Further back, the move by Not My Idea that seemed to be coming never seemed to pan out. He was now stuck in the middle of the field with Ingrained. Instead, Bring The Pain came to life, and started moving closer to the leaders, which included pulling up to the inside of Bayou Quartier. That one was still running fine, but did not make a further attempt at the lead. Bring The Pain was within a length and a half and looming as a threat for the lead. Sports Car didn’t need to move to the rail, as there became plenty of room to maintain the lane he was win, and get by the fading horses. Meanwhile, Major Weiner caught the attention of everyone with his very wide move as they approached the exit of the turn and into the stretch. He was about eight wide, but there was no other option, and advancing. Midwestern Slang was to his inside, but had run in the outer lanes the whole way. Similar story for Tried It. Faith In The Surge had his eyes set on shooting the gap in the middle of the field, while the rail was open for Purely Perfect to gain some positions.
(Finish- 2:25.07)- Taniwha continued to pour it on in the stretch. This was very impressive, as his stretch effort was really no different then the previous races of his where he came from the middle of the field. Built Like A Rock put a valiant fight, but in the end, he could not keep up with one of the best turf horses in the game right now. In the final strides, he lost second to Bring The Pain, though held off Sports Car in a photo for third. Coming on through in centerfield was Major Weiner, who did all that he could in the outside lane, but unfortunately for the trainer that effort just comes close to a check-earning finish, and doesn’t collect anything. Bayou Quartier and Ingrained run sixth and seventh, and they were steady throughout. With a little more luck, they may have earned something here too. Purely Perfect came on pretty well on the rail to have a better then it looks eighth place finish. Midwestern Slang may have run an extra half furlong in this race. Never recovered from his outside post. Even Faith In The Surge and Not My Idea had steady runs. Tried It was much like Midwestern Slang and had to cover a lot of extra ground. Sinister Sunset dropped back, and finished just ahead of Friday The Thirteenth, showing Saturday Thirteenth would not be his day.
About The Winner- Taniwha, trained by Aml Racing and ridden to victory by the great F Pennington, is a four year old by the late Monarch, and is out of Nagasaki Girl. He was bred in New York by Yahudi Stables as a yearling, and acquired by Aml Racing in private sales in October 2017. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his sixth in 14 starts, and fourth of six with Aml Racing. It’s his fourth graded win, and second grade 1, bringing his career earnings to $1,255.660.
Track: Firm
Time: :484 1:124 2:003 2:25
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 8 – 2 Paid 86.10
$1 Trifecta: 8 – 2 – 9 Paid 1,554.70
Scratched: None
Winner Picked by NS
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
