I Thee Wed up in time

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - A closing I Thee Wed ($55.40) nailed Chris's Bad Boy on the wire to notch his first stakes in the Grade 2 , a supporting feature on Sunday's Pattison Canadian International card at Woodbine.

I Thee Wed came wide from mid-pack in the six-furlong turf event to prevail by a neck over Chris's Bad Boy, who had set fractions of :22.63 and :44.98 seconds over a course labeled good.

I Thee Wed, the 6-5 favorite, was a stalking third, finishing a neck back of the runner-up. Dalavin was another head back in fourth in the 10-horse field. The final time was 1:09.36 seconds.

Jockey Jim McAleney, who rode I Thee Wed for trainer David Bell, said the race set up nicely for him.

"There was a lot of speed in the race," McAleney said. "I had him down on the inside, and ground seemed a little looser there, so I decided to take him (wide) at the head of the stretch. I thought I was going to run out of ground, but he stormed home quick enough to get there."

I Thee Wed banked $169,550 of the $282,750 purse for owner/breeder Pin Oak Stable.