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Marsh Side springs surprise in Canadian International
Marsh Side rapidly overtook him, but soon found himself confronted by an array of closers, including 6-5 favorite Doctor Dino (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]) and nearly 4-1 co-second choice Champs Elysees (GB) (Danehill). Staying on resolutely through the final furlong, Marsh Side proved to be uncatchable as he strode 1 3/4 lengths clear, and completed 1 1/2 miles on the firm turf in 2:28 3/5. An even bigger longshot, the 38-1 Spice Route (GB) (King's Best), finished well for the place, a neck ahead of the rallying Champs Elysees. Seaside Retreat checked in another 1 1/2 lengths adrift in fourth, with Doctor Dino flattening out in fifth. Mourilyan (Ire) (Desert Prince [Ire]) was a troubled sixth, followed by Lauro (Ger) (Monsun), Lucarno, Quijano (Ger) (Acatenango) and Marlang. Marsh Side continued the recent trend of Canadian International upsets, beginning with the 11-1 Relaxed Gesture (Ire) in 2005 and continuing with the 10-1 Collier Hill (GB) in 2006 and the 18-1 Cloudy's Knight (Lord Avie) last year. Marsh Side's loyalists were rewarded with mutuels of $61.20, $23 and $15.60. Spice Route returned $35.50 and $15.50, and the longshot exactor was worth $1,062.20. Champs Elysees gave back $4.50 and ended the $9,656.50 triactor. The 6-10-5-8 superfecta with Seaside Retreat in the anchor spot totaled $11,205.20. With the $1,109,640 winner's check, Marsh Side increased his bankroll to $1,439,706 from his 18-5-3-1 line. Although bred in Kentucky, the five-year-old has posted his best efforts in Canada. His last victory came in the Valedictory S. at 1 3/4 miles on Woodbine's Polytrack, and he was also runner-up in the 2007 Northern Dancer S. (Can-G2) at this course and distance. Transferred to Drysdale this season when Michael Dickinson retired from training, Marsh Side disappointed in his first three starts for his new conditioner. Last time out, he was a good fourth in the Northern Dancer, now a Grade 1, beaten by Champs Elysees, Quijano and Seaside Retreat. Marsh Side turned the tables on all of them Saturday. Marsh Side was produced by 1998 Orchid H. (G2) winner Colonial Play (Pleasant Colony), a full sister to Pleasant Stage, the champion juvenile filly of 1991; multiple Grade 3 victor Stage Colony; and Meteor Colony, the dam of Canadian Grade 1 hero Changeintheweather (Gone West), a close relative of Marsh Side. The Breeders' Cup is now firmly on the agenda, according to Patrick Lawley-Wakelin, Evan's racing manager. "I think, California, here we come," he said.
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