by Myra Lewyn
S J Stables’ veteran Cloudy's Knight took charge from Sunriver in midstretch and just edged fast-closing favorite Ask (GB) to capture the $2,073,698 Pattison Canadian International (Can-G1), Canada's richest race, on Sunday at Woodbine.
Seven-year-old Cloudy's Knight was sent off at 18.35-to-1 despite entering off a one-length victory in the Sky Classic Stakes (Can-G2) on September 23 at Woodbine. He also delivered a strong effort in the Nijinsky Stakes (Can-G2) at Woodbine on August 26, when he came up just three-quarters of a length short of catching runaway winner Last Answer.
Cloudy’s Knight stalked from fifth then third under Ramsey Zimmerman as Marsh Side set the pace, pressed by Sunriver, through one mile in a pedestrian 1:40.02.
Sunriver surged to a half-length lead at the quarter pole but was quickly engaged by Cloudy’s Knight. As Sunriver gave way, Cloudy’s Knight took over near the eighth pole and led by one length until challenged in deep stretch by multiple English Group 3 winner Ask, who lugged in as he pursued the leader after rallying from eighth in early stretch.
Cloudy’s Knight dug in resolutely to prevail by a nose while covering 1 ½ miles in 2:27.71 on firm turf.
"He's got a lot of guts," Zimmerman said. "He's never, never not tried for me. God bless him and praise the Lord for this day. [The race] just set up perfectly. He broke exactly how I wanted him to. Then he stalked a couple of lengths off the speed horses that were crawling. I’m just so grateful to be in Canada today and be a part of this day, representing America.
"He was able to just relax off those speed horses. If you get in his mouth, he might want to go fast, so I just threw the reins at him and it was perfect, right where he was. I was able to bide my time. I took a look over my shoulder to see if anyone was challenging from the outside, but nobody was. It was just a brilliant performance by Cloudy's Knight."
German Group 1 winner Quijano (Ger), the 3.90-to-1 second choice, finished one length back in third. Sky Conqueror, Canada’s reigning champion turf male, finished seventh.
Trained by Chicago-based Frank Kirby, Kentucky-bred Cloudy's Knight has won three of nine starts this year, including the Fair Grounds Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G3) on February 10. His overall record improved to ten wins in 32 starts in five seasons. The $1,242,480 winner’s share boosted his lifetime bankroll to $2,070,503.
Bred by Jerrold Schwartz, Cloudy’s Knight is out of the winning Solar City mare Cloudy Spot.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor