Wando Goes for Canadian Triple Crown

Gus Schickedanz's brilliant three-year-old Wando will try to become only the seventh winner of the Canadian Triple Crown, when hevgoes postward in Saturday's $500,000 Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine.

The Breeders', at one and one-half miles over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, is the third leg of the Triple Crown and has attracted eight Canadian-bred three-year-olds, each of whom will carry 126 pounds. Post time is 4:40 pm ET, with Rogers Sportsnet airing a special one hour live telecast from 4:00- 5:00 pm.

Wando, the even-money morning line favourite, will break from post seven. Trained by Mike Keogh and ridden by Patrick Husbands, the striking chestnut colt has dominated the first two legs, winning the Queen's Plate June 22 by nine lengths and the Prince of Wales Stakes on July 20 by four lengths.

Should he win the Breeders' on Saturday, he'll be the first Triple Crown winner since Peteski in 1993. In addition to the first place prize of $300,000, he'll also earn a $500,000 Triple Crown bonus, offered by the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society.

Among his challengers is the 4-1 second choice Strizzi (PP1, jockey Emile Ramsammy), owned by Frank Stronach and trained by Malcolm Pierce. Sam-Son Farm, going for a Triple Crown record sixth Breeders' and trainer Mark Frostad, looking for his fourth Breeders', are sending out three (separate betting interests) to challenge Wando: 9-2 third choice Shoal Water (PP6, Todd Kabel), 8-1 Parasail (PP8, Robert Landry) and 12-1 Colorful Judgement (PP2, Slade Callaghan).

Sam-Son won the Breeders' last year with Portcullis.

Arco's Gold (PP4, Constant Montpellier, at 8-1), Ballerina's Halo (PP5, Jim McAleney, at 30-1) and Tracy's Tonka Toy (PP3, Jono Jones, at 20-1) complete the Breeders' line-up.

New Providence (1959), Canebora (1963), With Approval (1989), Izvestia (1990) and Dance Smartly (1991) are the other Triple Crown champions.