Woodbine: Canadian International 2017, Erupt’s to lose
Erupt, last year’s winner of the G1 Canadian International at Woodbine, returns to defend his title in the 1 1/2 miles race for three-year-old and up runners looking to pad their bankroll by grabbing the lion’s share of the $800,000 purse.
Until his most recent start in the G1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga, Erupt was handled by trainer Francis Graffard for Flaxman Holdings Ltd., and earned nearly half of his $1.3 million in earnings in this race last year.
This will be his first start for trainer Graham Motion and the first time he’ll have someone other than Pasquier in the saddle. Motion has named Junior Alvarado to ride and the pair are one for one at Woodbine this year with a $2.80 return on investment. Erupt is listed at 7-2 in the morning line and gets Lasix for the first time in his career.
Idaho, listed at 5-2, will have a chance to make amends for his fifth place finish in this race last year as the 3-2 favorite. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, he will again be ridden by Ryan Moore.
Looking for his first G1 win is Oscar Nominated. Trained by Michael Maker for Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, Oscar Nominated recently won the G3 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs. Julian Leparoux will be back aboard for the 1 1/2 miles distance and is well-suited to upset the field in here.
