Cloudy's Knight holds on in International

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Cloudy's Knight ($38.70) held off a late bid from favored Ask to capture the $2 million Canadian International at Woodbine Sunday.

It was the third start in Canada this year for Cloudy's Knight, which makes him eligible for Sovereign Award consideration, and he figures to garner lots of support in the voting for Canadian Horse of the Year honors.

Cloudy's Knight, based in Chicago with trainer Frank Kirby, had an ideal three-wide stalking trip under Ramsey Zimmerman. Marsh Side set slow fractions of 25.18 seconds, 50.89, and 1:15.60 while being pressed by Sunriver in the mile and a half turf event.

Cloudy's Knight made the lead early in the stretch, and opened up a length lead at the eighth pole en route to a nose victory, in a time of 2:27.71. Ask rallied wide under Ryan Moore, ending up a length ahead of the third-place finisher, Quijano. Stream of Gold was fourth in the 12-horse field.

"He was able to relax off those speed horses," said Zimmerman. "If you get into his mouth, he might want to go too fast, so I just threw the reigns at him, and he was perfect right where he was. I was able to bid my time. It was just a brilliant performance by Cloudys Knight."

Cloudy's Knight earned $1.2 million for SJ Stables LLC, which boosted his bankroll to $2,031,143.

Mrs. Linsay overtakes Sealy Hill in Taylor

French invader Mrs. Lindsay, fresh off an upset score in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille, took the $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes as the favorite, returning $4.80 in the Grade 1 race.

Mrs. Lindsay raced in third throughout most of the mile and a quarter grass race, as Essential Edge set a rapid pace. Sealy Hill rallied wide on the far turn and established a daylight lead at the eighth pole, but was overtaken late along the inside by Mrs. Lindsay, who won by a half-length in a course record time of 2:00.68. Barancella was third in the 10-horse field of fillies and mares.

"I was always traveling well," said John Murtagh, who rode Mrs. Lindsay for trainer Francois Rohaut. "At the top of the straight, I pulled her out to go. The acceleration wasn't immediate, but she's very brave, and when I asked her for everything, she gave it to me and went on quite well to the line."

Patrick Husbands said his mount, Sealy Hill, idled after she hit the front. "My filly was much the best," said Husbands. "She pulled herself up."

Mrs. Lindsay earned $600,000 for owner Bettina Jenney.

* Heros Reward captured Sunday's other turf stakes, the $501,200 Nearctic, covering six furlongs in 1:08.04 under Javier Castellano.