Wando Wins Canadian Triple Crown

While the U.S. hasn’t had a Triple Crown winner in more than a quarter of a century, Canada ended its drought at 10 years Saturday.

Wando, the 1-2 favorite, became the seventh 3-year-old and first since Peteski in 1993 to win the Canadian Triple Crown when he won the $500,000 Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine.

This followed victories in the Queen’s Plate and Prince of Wales.

The Breeders’ Stakes victory was his first over turf.

The son of Langfuhr overcame some adversity to beat 6-1 shot Shoal Water by 1 1/2 lengths in 2:28.69 for the 1 1/2 miles.

It was the eighth win in 11 starts for Wando, who increased his earnings for owner-breeder Bruno Schickendanz and trainer Mike Keogh to $1,774,402.

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Soto, the 2-1 second choice, remained unbeaten with a victory by a neck over 6-5 favorite Dynever in the $600,000 West Virginia Derby at a rainy Mountaineer Race Track.

Trained by Michael Dickinson, Soto, who was ridden by Ramon Dominguez, completed the 1 1/8 miles in a track record 1:46.29.

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Trainer Randy Schulhofer, who took over his father’s barn when Scotty Schulhofer retired at the end of 2001, got his first Grade I win when 24-1 shot Whitmore’s Conn took the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga.

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Tizdubai ($6) remained unbeaten and became a graded stakes winner in only her second start, rolling past favored Dirty Diana in the final sixteenth of a mile to win the $150,000 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar.