Relaxed Gesture rolls in International

Moyglare Stud's homebred RELAXED GESTURE (Ire) (Indian Ridge) swept wide

turning for home and flew past Meteor Storm (GB) (Bigstone [Ire]) in the final

furlong to earn an authoritative win in the $1,684,885 Canadian International S.

(Can-G1) at Woodbine Sunday. Rating toward the rear in the early going

beneath Corey Nakatani, the four-year-old colt moved smartly into contention

prior to the turn for home and powered clear from there, completing 1 1/2

miles on the yielding turf in 2:32 3/5 while finishing 4 1/2 lengths in front of

his nearest competitor. The Christophe Clement charge was dismissed at odds of

11-1, and rewarded his backers with generous payoffs of $24.40, $9.70 and $5.20

while keying superb exotics of $231.70 (exactor), $1,263.40 (trifector) and $5,484.30

($1 superfecta).

King's Drama (Ire) (King's Theatre [Ire]) broke alertly and held a short

advantage but was pressed hard by Euro invader Yeats (Ire) (Sadler's Wells)

throughout. The pair went in virtual tandem to record a mile in 1:39 1/5, but

did each other in as they were passed by a surging Meteor Storm (GB) (Bigstone

[Ire]), who

reached 10 furlongs in 2:06. That one looked clear late, but it was not to be,

as the winner was just hitting his best stride.

Meteor Storm held gamely to earn the place, worth $11.50 and $6.60 at

14-1. Electrocutionist (Red Ransom) closed from well off the pace to finish

fourth, but was moved up to third following the disqualification of third-place

finisher Grey Swallow (Ire) (Daylami [Ire]) to fourth. Show paid $2.80.

Simonas (Ire) (Sternkoenig) was next and followed by Yeats, Jambalaya (Langfuhr),

King's Drama, Strut the Stage (Theatrical [Ire]) and Last Answer (Langfuhr).

Relaxed Gesture upped his mark to 12-4-5-2, including placings in the Sword

Dancer Invitational S. (G1), Manhattan H. (G1), Man o' War S. (G1), Bowling Green

H. (G2), and a pair of Group 2 races in his native Ireland.

The winner was produced from the Group 3-winning Token Gesture (Alzao) and has

an unraced three-year-old half-sister named Delicate Flower (Sadler's Wells).

Also at Woodbine, John Greathouse's HONEY RYDER (Lasting Approval) closed

stoutly on the outside to annex a well deserved tally in the prestigious

$843,959 E. P. Taylor S. (Can-G1). Ridden by John Velazquez for trainer Todd

Pletcher, the gray lass finished up 10 furlongs over yielding going in 2:06

3/5 and was good for $10.90, $5.60 and $4.70 as the 4-1 second choice.

The winner was next to last among the 12 entrants as Iota (Ger) (Tiger Hill) was in

front following a mile in 1:41 3/5, before putting in a sterling late charge to

earn her third consecutive win. Latice (Ire) (Inchinor [GB]) moved through an

opening on the inside and had the lead for a short time late, but could not hold

off the top one in posting a sharp runner-up performance. The 7-1 shot paid $7

and $6.50 while completing the $93.50 exactor. Ambitious Cat (Storm Cat) circled

five wide to gain a brief advantage in early stretch, and did well to hold on

for the show, paying $8.50 in the process while a head farther back. The winning

trifecta was worth $1,406.60, while the $1 superfecta with Barancella (Fr) (Acatenango)

on the bottom paid $5,796.75.

Finery (Lear Fan) came next and was followed by Noble Stella (Ger) (Monsun),

Mona Rose (Gold Legend), Iota (Ger), Classic Stamp (Regal Classic), favored

Punctilious (GB) (Danehill), Cassydora (GB) (Darshaan) and early pacesetter

Stunning Rose (Ire) (Sadler's Wells).

Honey Ryder adds to an already impressive resume, boosting her mark to

20-8-1-6. The four-year-old has amassed scores in the Orchid H. (G2), Glenns

Falls H. (G3), The Very One H. (G3), Princess Mora S. and the Robert G. Dick

Memorial Breeders' Cup H. The winner was bred in the Bluegrass State by Wimborne

Farms Inc., and purchased at the 2002 Wimborne Dispersal Sale for $70,000. She

was produced from the Affirmed mare Cuando Quiere, and has a pair of unraced

siblings, a full-brother two-year-old colt named Gray Mountain as well as an

unnamed yearling colt by War Chant.