Rahy's Attorney surprises at Woodine

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Locally-based Rahy's Attorney pulled off a 12-1 upset in Sunday's $1,078,200 Woodbine Mile, while heavily favored Kip Deville could only manage fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Win and Youre In race.

Rahy's Attorney got an astute ground-saving ride from Slade Callaghan, who had him placed just behind pacemaker Just Rushing on the backstretch, through fractions of 24.47 and:48.25 seconds, over a course labeled yielding.

A headstrong Kip Deville stalked the moderate pace on the outside under Cornelio Velasquez, and was third on the turn as Rahy's Attorney assumed command through three-quarters in 1:11.93, before opening up a daylight lead.

The talented filly Ventura made her way to the rail by the turn, and rallied steadily in the stretch, but Rahy's Attorney kept on going and won by a length and a quarter under a strong hand ride, in a time of 1:36.14.

Ventura finished second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Just Rushing . He was followed by Ice Bear, Kip Deville, Mulmur, Palladio, and Wollemi Pine, who, like Rahy's Attorney, is trained by Ian Black.

"I didn't want to be on the lead, nor did Mr. Black," said Callaghan, "so we sat just off of Just Rushing, and he dropped in front of us. We followed him around the turn, and we were going a little too slow for my horse, and I figured it was now or never. I knew my horse could last the distance, so I made an early move. I had to swing him out a little to get by Just Rushing on the turn, and then I went back to the rail, which I thought was the best place, because he loves the rail. It worked out great."

Velasquez offered no concrete excuses for the 2007 Woodbine Mile runner-up Kip Deville, who was beaten five lengths.

"He did not try today," said Velasquez. "He wasnt running. The position was fine. Whether he did not like the track, I dont know."

Rahy's Attorney paid $27.30 and earned $660,000 for the partnership of Ellie Boje Farm, Mitch Peters, Dean Read, and Jim and Jean MacLellan. He earned a guaranteed starting spot in the BC Mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 25 but is ineligible to the Breeders' Cup program, and it would cost $180,000 to supplement him to the Mile.

Rahy's Attorney is unbeaten in four starts at a mile, and has an overall record of seven wins in 17 starts, with earnings of $1,133,979.

Champs Elysees by a nose in Northern Dancer

The Bobby Frankel-trained Champs Elysees ($9.20) posted a narrow victory over the favored German invader Quijano in the Grade 1, $728,600 Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf.

Champs Elysees rated kindly in fifth about five lengths off the lead on the backstretch of the mile and a half turf marathon. Garrett Gomez angled him wide for the drive, and he wore down the leaders in the final furlong to score by a nose, in a time of 2:32.02. Seaside Retreat finished another half-length back in third, and Marsh Side was a close fourth in the nine-horse field.

"The course is on the soft to yielding side," said Gomez. "Coming from Europe, I knew it wouldn't bother him too much, and I knew it was just a matter of time before I got a good trip with him, and got him traveling well."

Andrasch Starke said he had a good trip aboard the laid back Quijano.

"There was a good pace, from the start to the beginning," said Starke. "I had a good draw, and a perfect run. He was very relaxed all the way. He was definitely too relaxed, but he really started to fight the last furlong."

Champs Elysees earned $450,000 for Juddmonte Farm, in what is the local prep for the Grade 1 Canadian International on Oct. 4.

J'ray finishes strongly in Canadian

J'ray ($15.10) closed strongly from off slow fractions to take the Grade 2 Canadian, a nine-furlong stakes which serves as the prep for the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes on Oct. 4.

Joe Bravo rode Jray, who trailed the 11-horse field on the turn, before commencing her rally at the top of the stretch. She overhauled Callwood Dancer at the sixteenth pole and prevailed by a length, in a time of 1:51.86.

Forever Together, the 4-5 favorite, closed belatedly for third, and the reigning Canadian Horse of the Year, Sealy Hill, faded to fourth after making a wide bid early in the stretch.

"This filly has really gotten good," said Bravo. "She relaxed back there, saved all her energy until we turned for home, and she exploded and showed her true colors."

J'ray, trained by Todd Pletcher for Lawrence Goichman, banked $180,000 of the $305,400 purse. She won the Grade 3 Matchmaker Stakes in her previous start at Monmouth.