North American trainers like Mark Casse, Roger Attfield, Shug McGaughey, Josie Carroll, Christophe Clement, Chad Brown and Brad Cox are represented in Turf Racing Festival races, along with Charles Appleby with several Godolphin horses from England. Coming back from Europe in an attempt to win the G1 Canadian International for a third time is the David Simcock-trained 9-year-old Irish-bred veteran, Desert Encounter. Legendary rider Frankie Dettori will also be on hand for the weekend races.

To help sort through it all, racing analyst and handicapper Jennifer Morrison – @jensblog on Twitter and a regular contributor to OntarioRacing.com and CanadianThoroughbred.com  – joins publisher Ray Paulick and bloodstock editor Joe Nevills in this week's edition of the Friday Show.

Jen also offers her post-race analysis of Tuesday's Fort of Erie Stakes – middle leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.

This week's Woodbine Star of the Week is Tap It to Win, a Tapit 4-year-old colt who rebounded from three consecutive defeats to win his first graded stakes last weekend in the G3 Seagram Cup.

Watch this week's show, presented by Monmouth Park, below:

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On Saturday at Woodbine, Desert Encounter will look to notch his third straight victory in the Grade 1, $600,000 Pattison Canadian International. Should he be successful, he would join Joshua Tree (2010, 2012, 2013) as the only three-time winners of the race.

Run over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course, the race for three-year-olds and up has lured back the 2018 and 2019 champion.

After the worldwide pandemic caused the International to be postponed last year, the 1 ½-mile turf event, a race won by some of the greatest names in the sport, including the legendary Secretariat, is now back on track.

David Simcock, who trains Desert Encounter for Abdulla Al Mansoori, is hoping his 9-year-old veteran can conjure up some of his past Woodbine magic to get back into winning form.

The Irish-bred, whose last win came in the 2019 running of the International, has gone 15 races without a victory. The gelding has posted six runner-up finishes and a pair of thirds over that stretch.

In his most recent start, on Aug. 28 at Royal Windsor, Desert Encounter rallied to finish second in the 1 7/16-mile August Stakes.

“He seems in great order,” said Simcock. “I was really pleased with his last run at Windsor at the end of August and hopefully that sets him up for Saturday.”

After a fourth, second and third to launch his career, Desert Encounter reeled off four straight victories. From October of 2015 to July of 2017, he went 5-2-2 from nine engagements.

Bred by Tally-Ho Stud, he has assembled a 12-10-9 mark from 46 career starts.

What is Simock most proud of when it comes to his veteran campaigner?

“I think just his longevity and consistency is testament to him. He is a kind horse. He is very straightforward to deal with.”

Desert Encounter isn't the only one on his team that enjoys competing at Woodbine.

In 2014, Simock sent out Sheikhzayeroad to win the Grade 1 Northern Dancer, Trade Storm to take the Ricoh Woodbine Mile, and Caspar Netscher to capture the Grade 2 Nearctic.

“I have really enjoyed my trips to Woodbine, but I'm very happy to just let the horse do the talking,” he quipped.

This Saturday, Simcock hopes Desert Encounter speaks volumes about his affinity for the Canadian International.

Although it's been a long time in between drinks for the bay, the Woodbine turf has always been an oasis for the hard-knocking horse.

“The second half of the season is always when this horse comes into himself and the flat track with a good straight helps his style of running.”

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“He seems to really enjoy travelling here,” said Ian Russell, travelling head lad for trainer David Simcock, who has accompanied Desert Encounter on his previous forays. “I think when he sees a plane he comes alive because he's looking for the next adventure.”

That affinity for Woodbine and the E.P. Taylor Turf Course will be put to the test again Saturday when Desert Encounter seeks to become the first runner to capture three consecutive runnings of the Grade 1, 1 ½-mile Pattison Canadian International, a $600,000 race for three-year-olds and upward.

The Canadian International was not held last year on a stakes schedule impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

That leaves the Irish-bred gelding Desert Encounter, who is owned by Abdulla Al Mansoori and is based in England, as the two-time defending champion by virtue of his Canadian International victories in 2018 and 2019.

Joshua Tree, based in Ireland, is the only three-time winner of the Canadian International with successes in 2010, 2012, and 2013, interrupted by a second-place finish in 2011.

But, at age nine and winless in 15 races since his last appearance here, does Desert Encounter still have what it will take to defeat seven rivals, ranging from two to five years his juniors, in the prestigious event with the likes of Secretariat, All Along, Chief Bearhart, Singspiel, Youth, Snow Knight, Dahlia, and George Royal amongst its honour roll?

“At nine, there's a lot of younger horses running against him; he's got a bit of experience next to them,” said Russell. “For as much as he is older, he's enjoying it, and he's showing us the signs that he still wants to do it. I think watching him in his last run, when he was second at Windsor, he's still got a zest for life.”

Teona, the 3-year-old filly who defeated Desert Encounter that day, has since seen her stock soar with an upset win in last weekend's Group 1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at Longchamp.

That Windsor race, at 1 7/16 miles on turf, came on August 28. His previous Canadian International successes, when the race was run in mid-October, also followed good efforts at Newbury three weeks earlier.

“We couldn't wholly keep the same pattern, but generally everything is just the same,” said Russell.

One change does come as rider Danny Tudhope will pilot Desert Encounter, whose previous Canadian International scores came under Andrea Atzeni. Tudhope will be making his Canadian debut but boasts Grade 1 successes in the U.S. courtesy of Mondialiste in the 2016 Arlington Million and Suedois in the 2017 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland.

In addition to Desert Encounter, Simcock has been represented by a trio of 2014 stakes winners here in Trade Storm (Grade 1 Woodbine Mile), Sheikhzayedroad (Grade 1 Northern Dancer), and Caspar Netscher (Grade 2 Nearctic). Sheikhzayedroad returned the following year to finish third in the Canadian International.

Walton Street, bred and trained in England and representing the powerful Godolphin, is at seven the closest in age to Desert Encounter and will be making his first trip across the pond for conditioner Charlie Appleby.

“I think the older he's getting, the wiser he's getting,” said travelling head lad Chris Durham. “Charlie always wanted to come here with him. He's happy with him.”

In his most recent outing, the homebred finished third after leading through most of the about 1 ½-miles of good turf in the Group 1 Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin.

That August 8 race was Walton Street's first since a Dubai campaign that kicked off with back-to-back scores and concluded with an admirable fourth-place finish in a very tough renewal of the Grade 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic.

“He ran really well in Germany, for his first time out,” said Durham, noting that the runner-up there, Torquator Tasso, has returned to win the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden. “His form looks good.”

Walton Street will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, who will be making his first appearance here since winning aboard Joshua Tree in 2012. That was Dettori's third victory in the Canadian International, following Sulmani in the 2004 edition and Mutafaweq in 2000.

Appleby is taking his first crack at the Canadian International but has won Grade 1 races here with Old Persian (2019 Northern Dancer) and La Pelosa (2018 Natalma).

Invading from south of the border for the Canadian International will be Corelli, Fantasioso, and Bluegrass Parkway.

Corelli, who began his career in England for owner/breeder George Strawbridge, moved to New York and trainer Jonathan Thomas and finished third in Monmouth Park's Grade 1 United Nations over 1 3/8 miles of firm turf in his best performance. This year, the six-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding is 2-for-4 including his first graded stakes score here last time out in the Singspiel.

Shipping up from his Saratoga base for trainer Jonathan Thomas, Corelli rallied strongly in the Grade 3 Singspiel over 1 ¼-miles of the E.P. Taylor course for a going-away 1 ¾-length score under a heads-up ride by the returning Kazushi Kimura.

“He exited that race in good order, and had two nice works out of it,” said Thomas.

“We're really pleased with him,” he added, while acknowledging that Saturday's 1 ½-mile distance is “a little question mark.”

In his only North American try at the distance, Corelli ended a well-beaten fifth over soft going in Saratoga's Grade 1 Sword Dancer.

“He ran a very good race going a mile and three, and then he ran a mile and a half on bottomless ground,” said Thomas. “It's a little bit of a learning curve for us. He seems to be a mile and a quarter horse on the turf; those are rare distances. But he got over the track there beautifully, and he's starting to relax nicely in his races and finish up, so we're taking a shot.”

Corelli acquitted himself well when travelling 1 ½ miles and thereabouts in the English phase of his career, although not in group company, and will be looking to provide the U.S. a victory in this race won by Europeans in all but one of the last 10 renewals. The outlier was Bullards Alley, the Kentucky shipper who was a major upsetter in in the 2017 edition over a soggy turf course.

Fantasioso was scratched from last Saturday's Calumet Turf Cup, a 1 ½ mile turf race at Kentucky Downs, and has readjusted his sights while seeking his first win since leaving his native Argentina.

A proven marathoner, the six-year-old horse's best effort in this hemisphere was a second-place finish in the Group 2 Belmont Gold Cup over two miles of yielding going.

Ignacio Correas IV trains Fantasioso and is a co-owner along with Jeffrey Bloom's Bloom Racing Stable LLC.

Bluegrass Parkway, supplemented to the Canadian International at a cost of $12,000, which includes the regular entry fee, captured the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup over 1 ¼-miles of firm going at Ellis Park but also scratched from the main event.

A five-year-old gelding who was bred in Kentucky by Mike Ryan and is trained there by Mike Maker, Bluegrass Parkway was recording his first stakes win there.

Joel Rosario, coming off an astounding Kentucky Downs meeting, has the mount.

The local contingent for the Canadian International is comprised of English Conqueror, Belichick, and Primo Touch, the first, second and fifth finishers from the Singspiel.

English Conqueror, owned and bred by JWS Farms and trained by Darwin Banach, is a 4-year-old gelding who came up with the best effort of his career despite a less than ideal trip. In his only previous effort over the Canadian International course and distance he was a well-beaten third in last year's Breeders' Stakes.

Belichick, who ended a length behind English Conqueror in the Singspiel, was a comfortable winner of the Breeders', the third leg of the Triple Crown for Canadian-bred three-year-olds. Owned by NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods and conditioned by Josie Carroll, the Lemon Drop Kid colt will be ridden by Luis Contreras.

Primo Touch has started since the Singspiel, going coast-to-coast over 1 ¼-miles of turf in allowance company, and is expected to set the pace again here.

All Canadian International entrants carry 126 pounds under the weight-for-age terms.

$600,000 Pattison Canadian International (Grade 1)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Corelli – Kazushi Kimura – Jonathan Thomas
2 – Walton Street – Frankie Dettori – Charlie Appleby
3 – Desert Encounter – Danny Tudhope – David Simcock
4 – Bluegrass Parkway – Patrick Husbands – Mike Maker
5 – Primo Touch – Daisuke Fukumoto – Harold Ladouceur
6 – Fantasioso – Joel Rosario – Ignacio Correas IV
7 – Belichick – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll
8 – English Conqueror – Antonio Gallardo – Darwin Banach

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The coveted Gomez Award is given to the person, Canadian-born, Canadian-raised, or regular rider in the country for more than five years, who has made significant contributions to the sport.

It is named in memory of one of the sport's most heralded and loved performers. The Cuban-born Gomez died of complications after a three-horse accident in the 1980 Canadian Oaks.

The 46-year-old da Silva, now retired, is no doubt a worthy recipient of the award.

Da Silva won a slew of several impressive awards and high-profile races over the course of an outstanding career, including a pair of Queen's Plate triumphs, and stirring upset scores in the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile and Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International.

His catchphrase, “Good Luck To Everybody,” was always accompanied by a wide smile, words, and a look that embodied an unabashed love for all things horse racing.

Da Silva now has another reason to flash that winning smile, as this year's Gomez honoree. He ranks the distinction as one of the most treasured moments associated with his life in the saddle.

“What a nice surprise. Jessica Buckley [Woodbine Entertainment SVP, Standardbred & Thoroughbred Racing] called and told me. I was so happy. I didn't expect this, but I feel very lucky. This is a great award. I am so thrilled. I feel like I know Avelino. I have heard so many stories about him. I've heard how great he was as a rider and how the fans loved him. So, to win this award that is named after one of the best riders, it is amazing.”

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, da Silva launched his career in his homeland before moving to Macau. He counts the Brazil Derby, a two-mile Group 1 turf race, among his most memorable early triumphs.

Upon his arrival at Woodbine in 2004, da Silva's stated goal was to become the racetrack's leading rider. He wasted no time in putting his plan in motion.

He recorded his first Woodbine victory on May 20, 2004, teaming with Point Hidden, a bay son of Tale of the Cat, for a half-length win over five furlongs on the main track.

From there, da Silva began his steady ascent in the jockey standings.

Da Silva first topped the standings in 2010 and won the riding title from 2015-2019. In 2018, he set the record for most wins in a single meet at Woodbine with 237 victories.

A seven-time Sovereign Award winner as Canada's Outstanding Jockey, he has victories in all three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, including consecutive editions of The Queen's Plate in 2009 and 2010, with Eye of the Leopard and Big Red Mike, respectively.

In 2017, he teamed with longshot Bullards Alley to win the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile. Two years later, he engineered another upset, this time with El Tormenta in the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International. He was a part of the Horse of the Year campaigns by Pink Lloyd (2017), Up With the Birds (2013), Biofuel (2010), and Fatal Bullet (2008).

Da Silva, who won his final stakes race with Pumpkin Rumble in the 2019 Valedictory Stakes, also made a name for himself on the international stage.

A lifetime winner of 2,286 races, da Silva bested his rivals to reign victorious in the 2017 World All-Star Jockeys Championship in Japan.

Now, he can add another cherished piece of hardware to his trophy case.

“When I look back on my career, I wanted to be a good rider, but I also wanted to help in the community as well,” said da Silva, who released his autobiography, 'Riding For Freedom,' in late 2020, and now works as a Certified Mind Coach. “The fans, the community around Woodbine, all of it is important to me.

“This honor made me reflect on my career and all the great people and horses I connected with. What it makes me think about is every day that I walked into the jocks' room and how happy I was to do that. So many great riders, like Avelino, were there. I was proud to be able to walk into that room and be part of one of the toughest jockey colonies in the world. Woodbine is so competitive. When you are able to accomplish your dreams, it is very rewarding.”

To commemorate his contributions to the sport, a life-size statue of Gomez, who called Toronto home and raised a family there, keeps watch over Woodbine's walking ring. A replica is presented to each year's honoree.

Although presented annually on Woodbine Oaks day at Woodbine (August 1 this year), this year's ceremony will take place on September 19 at Woodbine. With attendance currently limited to due COVID restrictions, the September date will allow more fans to share in the festivities.

Da Silva joins Ron Turcotte, Johnny Longden, Sandy Hawley, Don MacBeth, Chris Rogers, Jeff Fell, Lloyd Duffy, Hugo Dittfach, Robin Platts, Larry Attard, Don Seymour, David Gall, Richard Grubb, Irwin Driedger, David Clark, Jim McKnight, Chris Loseth, Richard Dos Ramos, Robert Landry, Francine Villeneuve, Sam Krasner, John LeBlanc Sr., George Ho Sang, Jack Lauzon, Robert King Jr., Stewart Elliott, Emile Ramsammy, Steve Bahen, Mickey Walls, Patrick Husbands, Quincy Welch, Gary Stahlbaum, Gary Boulanger, Emma-Jayne Wilson, and Frank Barroby as Gomez honorees.

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“Last year was obviously a challenging year for the industry due to COVID-19,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “While Woodbine Entertainment and the horse racing industry continue to be impacted, we are hopeful that the pandemic in Ontario improves in the coming months, allowing businesses and industries to safely re-open, including our ability to start our 2021 meet as planned on Saturday, Apr. 17.”

The 2021 Thoroughbred stakes program will offer more than $16.5 million in purses across 87 stakes and feature a pair of $1 million events, including the Aug. 22 Queen's Plate, as well as the Sept. 18 GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile, a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” race. The GI Pattison Canadian International, cancelled in 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, will be featured on the Woodbine Mile card along with the GII Canadian S. The GI Natalma S. and GI Summer S., both designated as Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” races, have each received a purse hike in 2021 to $400,000 from $250,000. The Woodbine Cares and Ontario Racing Stakes, juvenile Inner Turf stakes introduced in 2019, will be contested on the same Sunday with purses of $125,000 each.

The GI Highlander S., with an increased purse of $350,000 (up from $300,000), also returns after a year hiatus due to the pandemic and will be featured on The Queen's Plate undercard.   The GI E.P. Taylor S. headlines the Oct. 17 card, serving as the final leg of Woodbine's Ladies of the Lawn Series, which offers $75,000 in bonuses to the top performers based on points accumulated in the designated graded turf routes for fillies and mares.

Purses for all Grade III Stakes races at Woodbine Racetrack will receive a 20% increase to $150,000 this season. Also of note for 2021, Listed races have increased purses to $125,000, boosted from $100,000.

“We are excited to bring back the Pattison Canadian International as part of our world-class stakes schedule for the 2021 Thoroughbred meet at Woodbine Racetrack,” said Lawson. “The 2021 stakes schedule includes several significant purse increases, including the G I Natalma S. and GI Summer S., as well as all Grade III stakes. These increases, along with a strong complement of stakes races for all ages, and robust Ontario-bred stakes offerings, will deliver exciting racing, competitive fields, and an abundance of wagering options available on Woodbine's outstanding live racing product.”

For the complete stakes schedule, visit www.woodbine.com.

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The lucrative 2021 Thoroughbred stakes program will offer more than $16.5 million in purses across 87 stakes and feature a pair of $1 million classics, including the iconic Queen's Plate (Sunday, August 22), as well as the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Saturday, September 18), a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” race. The G1 $600,000 Pattison Canadian International returns after a year hiatus due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and will be featured on the Woodbine Mile card along with the G2 $250,000 Canadian Stakes. The G1 Natalma and G1 Summer, both designated as Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” races, have each received notable purse increases to $400,000 from $250,000. The G1 Highlander Stakes, with an increased purse of $350,000 (up from $300,000), also returns after a year hiatus due to the pandemic and will be featured on The Queen's Plate card on Aug. 22. Purses for all Grade 3 Stakes races at Woodbine Racetrack are also receiving a 20 percent increase to $150,000.

“We are excited to bring back the Pattison Canadian International as part of our world-class stakes schedule for the 2021 Thoroughbred meet at Woodbine Racetrack,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “The 2021 stakes schedule includes several significant purse increases, including the Grade 1 Natalma and Grade 1 Summer, as well as all Grade 3 stakes. These increases, along with a strong complement of stakes races for all ages, and robust Ontario Bred stakes offerings, will deliver exciting racing, competitive fields, and an abundance of wagering options available on Woodbine's outstanding live racing product.”

The Toronto racetrack will host the first and third legs of the Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, starting with the 162nd running of the historic Queen's Plate and concluding with the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes on Sunday, Oct. 3. The second leg, the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, will be run at Fort Erie Race Track on Tuesday, Sept. 14.

On Sept. 19, a pair of juvenile Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” races take the spotlight, the G1 Natalma for 2-year-old fillies and G1 Summer for 2-year-olds. The Woodbine Cares and Ontario Racing Stakes, juvenile Inner Turf stakes introduced in 2019, will be contested on the same Sunday with purses of $125,000 each.

On Sunday, Oct. 17, the $600,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1) headlines the day and serves as the final leg of Woodbine's Ladies of the Lawn Series, which offers $75,000 in bonuses to the top performers based on points accumulated in the designated graded turf routes for fillies and mares. The series also includes $175,000 Dance Smartly Stakes (G2) and $250,000 Canadian Stakes (G2). The winner of the Ladies of the Lawn Series in 2020 was Elizabeth Way.

The $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser, first leg of the prestigious Canadian Triple Tiara, headlines another major race card on Sunday, July 25, which includes the $150,000 Plate Trial, a key prep on the road to The Queen's Plate.

A strong Ontario Bred stakes offering includes the reinstatement of the Sir Barton Stakes, Shady Well Stakes, and Clarendon, each carrying a $150,000 purse.

“Our Ontario Bred and Ontario Sired stakes calendar and strong overnight opportunities remain an integral part of our racing program at Woodbine,” Lawson said. “We have very attractive opportunities for Ontario horses to stay and race at home and are excited about the return of the stakes races we were not able to run last year.”

The other classics for horses foaled in Canada are the Bison City (Sunday, Aug. 15), Wonder Where (Saturday, Oct. 2), Cup & Saucer (Sunday, Oct. 10), Princess Elizabeth (Saturday, Oct. 23) and Coronation Futurity (Saturday, Oct. 30). Each race carries a purse of $250,000.

Woodbine will celebrate Canada Day with a special Thursday afternoon program on July 1 highlighted by the G3 Dominion Day.

This year's Yearling Sales Stakes day, slated for Sunday, Aug. 29, will feature four stakes, including a pair of 2-year-old events (Simcoe and Muskoka) and a pair of 3-year-old events (Elgin and Algoma).

Also of note for 2021, Listed races have increased purses to $125,000, boosted from $100,000.

“Last year was obviously a challenging year for the industry due to COVID-19,” remarked Lawson. “While Woodbine Entertainment and the horse racing industry continue to be impacted, we are hopeful that the pandemic in Ontario improves in the coming months, allowing businesses and industries to safely re-open, including our ability to start our 2021 meet as planned on Saturday, April 17.”

Woodbine's 2021 stakes schedule is subject to approval by the Graded Stakes Committee.

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