Princess Haya wins photo in Canadian

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Princess Haya, coming late under Rafael Bejarano, emerged best by a nose in a three-horse photo in a thrilling conclusion to Sunday's over about 1 1/8 miles of turf at Woodbine.

Forever Together, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf and the Eclipse Award as champion turf filly or mare, was a beaten choice for the second straight year in the Canadian, ending second at 1-5 under regular rider Julien Leparoux.

Much Obliged finished another head back in third, with Points of Grace, her stablemate from trainer Malcolm Pierce's barn, beaten a total of just more than two lengths in the $300,000 Canadian.

Princess Haya, trained by Michael Matz and overlooked at 15-1, was coming into the Canadian off a second-place finish in Monmouth's off-the-turf Matchmaker over 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 2.

"I let the speed go a little bit," Bejarano said. "I was comfortable on the rail, waiting.

"When I came into the stretch, after I made my move on the rail, my horse gave me a big kick."

Forever Together had finished third at 4-5 over yielding going in last year's Canadian and

caught a firm course this time around.

"It might have been a little too firm for her, but I thought she ran great," trainer Jonathan Sheppard said.

"She had the horse inside of her measured, but then the other horse came flying up the rail and nipped us both."

Leparoux told Sheppard that Forever Together had taken an awkward step just before the wire.

"That threw her off stride and could have made the difference," Sheppard said after watching the race replay.

Princess Haya returned $32.10.