Power Ped Looks to Give Drysdale Second Canadian International

Power Ped, a bay son of Powerscourt, looks to deliver trainer Neil Drysdale a coveted second score in the Pattison Canadian International.

Consistency is the hallmark for the Stepaside Farms’ silk bearer, who heads into Sunday’s Grade 1 fall turf classic having fashioned nine consecutive top-four finishes, including a victory in the Cotton Fitzsimmons in January at Turf Paradise.

A lifetime winner of four races from 23 starts, Power Ped finished second to Da Big Hoss in the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup on September 14, his last start before this weekend’s 1 ½-mile event.

“He had a great recent work at Keeneland and that was the deciding factor when it came to entering the race,” said Drysdale, who won the 2008 International with Marsh Side. “He’s a very genuine, consistent horse and he fits into this race. The one thing you know is that he will try hard every time.”

That was evident in his Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile performance, a race named in honour of the late coach and executive of the Phoenix Suns. Sent off as the 6-5 choice, Power Ped won by two lengths and earned a career-best 99 Beyer figure. 

It was also the second consecutive race victory for Drysdale, who took the 2014 edition with Fire with Fire.

“It was an excellent effort and one that speaks to his consistency and honest efforts,” praised Drysdale. “He was very strong right to the wire.”

Power Ped’s sire, Powerscourt raced in seven countries, and won or placed in 10 stakes, all group or graded. His notable European triumph came in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. As a 2-year-old, he was second in the Racing Post Trophy. He also took the 2005 running of the Arlington Million, one year after being disqualified and placed second in the race.

Jockey Florent Geroux will guide the five-year-old Kentucky-bred for the second consecutive start.

The versatile Reporting Star has won races from seven furlongs up to 1 1/16-miles, and last season he showed his stamina, finishing a close second travelling 1 ¼-miles in the Sky Classic and a strong third in the 1 ½-miles Northern Dancer. And although he’ll be a longshot on Sunday, Reporting Star will hope to be front-page news come Monday morning.

In August, the grass-loving gelding nosed out a victory in the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes. Dismissed at 15-1, Reporting Star earned a career-high 98 Beyer figure for his performance in the grassy seven furlong tilt while taking his first added-money triumph.

“Last year, I had him for the first time and the form showed he was a mile and a quarter, mile and a half kind of horse so we went with that,” said trainer Pat Parente. “This year, I wanted to get a couple sprints into him starting out and it turns out he can run at high levels at a sprint also, on the way to stretching out.  That's how he found himself winning the Play the King. He's a really versatile horse and can do whatever you want him to do.”

He’s finished out of the top three just four times over his 23-race career. In fact, this shining ‘Star’ has finished in the top three in 18 of his past 21 starts.  “In the barn, and in handling, he's a pussycat,” said Parente. “But, on the track he just wants to win and beat horses. In past races, horses have gone by him and he will fight back to beat them. He wants to win.”

A rallying winner of the Play the King, Reporting Star, the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Turf Champion of 2014, was prominently placed last time out in the $1-million Ricoh Woodbine Mile, sitting second for much of the race, and stayed on strong down the lane to finish fifth, defeated less than three lengths by Mondialiste.  More of the same speed is expected on International day.

“Going from short to long, I think he'll inherit the lead because of the speed he can show,” said Parente. “He's not necessarily a speed horse and doesn't need the lead to win, but I think we'll find ourselves up front even if we try to keep him back a bit.”

Reporting Star was on the lead in last year’s International and finished sixth, defeated 6 ½-lengths by Hillstar over a turf course rated as ‘good’.  Parente is hopeful that firmer ground will help his versatile gelding.

“I think he can win that way, and a firm turf is quicker and would be to our benefit,” said Parente. “He has that determination when other horses come up to him to find another gear. It's best to let him do what he wants to do. If we start fighting with him, we'll impede his run more than anything.”

There are a million extra reasons to pay attention to Woodbine’s stakes events on October 18. 

A free-to-enter contest called the Woodbine Million Dollar Megapick asks Canadian racing fans (except the province of Quebec) to predict the exact order of finish for the entire field of the $500,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes and the $1 million Pattison Canadian International, both Grade 1 events, set for Sunday, October 18.

If a fan can predict the correct first-to-last finish for any one of the two contest races (E.P. Taylor Stakes, Pattison Canadian International) they’ll be looking at a million dollar payday.

If no one predicts the exact order of finish of any one race, a consolation prize of $10,000 will be shared among the individuals who get closest to the exact winning order in that race.

The Pattison Canadian International and E.P. Taylor will be aired on TSN5 from 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm on October 18.

Fans can visit Woodbine Racetrack.com to play the Megapick. A complete listing of rules and regulations is also available at the website.