Idaho an early 5-2 favorite in Canadian International

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Aidan O’Brien-trained 3-year-old Idaho is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the 79th running of the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine on Sunday.

A Group 2 winner in England, Idaho drew post 3 and will be ridden by Ryan Moore, who has won the last three editions of the 12-furlong International. Idaho, who placed in both the Group 1 Epsom Derby and Group 1 Irish Derby in June, lost his rider in the stretch after stumbling in the Group 1 St. Leger Stakes on Sept. 10.

Protectionist, the 2014 Melbourne Cup victor, is the 3-1 second choice from post 9 under Eduardo Pedroza. The well-traveled 6-year-old prevailed with ease in his last race in a Group 1 fixture in Germany.

Next in line at 7-2 is Dartmouth, a Group 2 winner owned by the queen of England. William Buick will break the Michael Stoute-trained 4-year-old from post 5.

Rounding out the field are Erupt (6-1), The Pizza Man (8-1), Wake Forest (10-1), World Approval (10-1), Danish Dynaformer (20-1), and Taghleeb (20-1).

The $1 million International is one of four graded stakes on Sunday’s card, along with the Grade 1 E.P Taylor, the Grade 2 Nearctic, and the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion.

Sunday’s final race will have a mandatory payout on the Jackpot Hi 5, which has a massive carryover of $464,321.

:: WOODBINE: Get PPs, watch Sunday’s card live