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Kip Deville, Ventura clash in Woodbine Mile; strong group set for Northern Dancer
"He's been doing great since last year," Dutrow said. "He's just been in a zone of his own. He's incredible. He's doing unbelievable. He certainly appears to be (a better horse than last year). He's just so much more confident in himself. He's matured into that type of horse. "The way he is now, we kind of just let him fall into the race the way he wants to because he knows what to do and when to do it. If he finds himself on the lead, that's fine with us," Dutrow summed up. Cornelio Velasquez will be back aboard Kip Deville at Woodbine.
Garrett Gomez makes the northern journey to stick with the four-year-old. The 4-1 second choice on the morning line, Ventura ranks as the 124-pound co-highweight with Kip Deville. Spearheading the home defense are Play the King S. (Can-G2) winner JUST RUSHING (Wild Rush) and runner-up WOLLEMI PINE (Aljabr), as well as multiple stakes hero ICE BEAR (Maria's Mon) and Connaught Cup (Can-G3) victor RAHY'S ATTORNEY (Crown Attorney). Adding even more firepower to the Sunday card, the C$750,000 Northern Dancer S. (Can-G1) has attracted a talented international cast of 10. The grassy 1 1/2-mile event has been elevated to Grade 1 status in just its third running, and has been moved from its former date in July so that it may serve as a key prep for the October 4 Canadian International (Can-G1). Multiple Grade 1 veteran BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man), most recently second in the Sword Dancer Invitational (G1) at Saratoga, will make his first visit to Woodbine since his gritty score in the Sky Classic S. (Can-G2) in September 2006. As always, Ramon Dominguez will be in the saddle aboard the nine-year-old.
The Dutrow versus Frankel motif will also be operative in the Northern Dancer. Dutrow's FROST GIANT (Giant's Causeway), last seen driving to victory in the Suburban H. (G1) at Belmont, reverts to the turf in this spot. The chestnut, who will shoulder the co-top weight of 124 pounds along with Quijano, was a multiple Group 3 scorer during his European sojourn with Aidan O'Brien. Frankel's CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB) (Danehill), winless since taking the San Marcos S. (G2) in January, will try to spark a turnaround. Others to note include SEASIDE RETREAT (King Cugat), a course record-setting winner of the Nijinsky S. (Can-G2) over the dependable STRIKE A DEAL (Smart Strike) in his latest, and English Group 3-placed SPICE ROUTE (GB) (King's Best) from the barn of Roger Attfield. Just as the Northern Dancer is a stepping stone to the Canadian International, so may Sunday's C$300,000 Canadian S. (Can-G2) lead the way to the October 4 E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) for 11 hopeful distaffers. FOREVER TOGETHER (Belong to Me) has earned the top impost of 124 pounds in the wake of her blistering, last-to-first score in the Diana S. (G1) Saratoga. Julien Leparoux will guide the Jonathan Sheppard pupil. Canadian Horse of the Year SEALY HILL (Point Given), who just failed by a neck in last year's Canadian, will attempt to go one better this time around beneath Patrick Husbands. THE NIAGARA QUEEN (Langfuhr) enters off a win at this same 1 1/8-mile trip in the Dance Smartly S. (Can-G2) on the Woodbine turf, while Todd Pletcher will saddle last-out Matchmaker S. (G3) heroine J'RAY (Distant View) and Grade/Group 3 veteran DANZON (Royal Academy).
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