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TORONTO -- Joshua Tree made his final Canadian appearance a historic one. The six-year-old Irish-bred took the lead coming off the final turn and never looked back, defending his title at the $1-million Pattison Canadian International on Sunday. The 6-1 pick became the first three-time winner of this event and also was second in the 2011 edition. Joshua Tree also has the distinction of winning this race for three different trainers -- Aidan OBrien in 2010, Marco Botti in 11 and Ed Dunlop this year. He also earned co-owners Khalid K. al Nabooda and Kamel Albahou their second consecutive International crown. "I have no idea but its quite remarkable," assistant trainer Andrew Stringer said when asked about Joshua Trees dominance at Woodbine. "When you think that horse has won three Canadian Internationals for three different trainers and has been trained three different ways, hes been fed three different ways, for him to do that hes quite an extraordinary equine thoroughbred racehorse. "Hes full of heart, guts and determination and by God he loves it here, doesnt he? It was an awesome performance." And one that could leave a lasting impression at Woodbine considering chances are good it marked Joshua Trees swansong at the Toronto track. His handlers are planning to retire the horse to stud at seasons end. "As he hit the front with that lead and he opened up three, four lengths I said, Thats it, game over," Stringer said. "There was no way he was going to get beat because hes so game. "There was nothing that was going to get past him today. The flight coming from bloody LA wouldnt have got him overtop the grandstand." The victory was Joshua Trees first this year, ending a six-race winless streak. And Joshua Tree returned to the winners circle for the first time since doing so at last years International ahead of Dandino and Forte Dei Marmi. Joshua Tree came into this event off a distant 13th-place finish in his last race, the Prix de lArc de Triomphe on Oct. 6. The International win was the first for both Dunlop and jockey Ryan Moore, who was second aboard Ask in 2007. "I went out a little sooner than I wouldve liked ideally but somehow I knew hed stay better and outfight most of them," Moore said. "I didnt want to get into the race too early so I let Mike (jockey Mike Smith aboard 8/5 favourite Slumber) go and I thought he stays so well, Ill get a good run up the inside and kick home." Joshua Trees victory also marked the fourth straight year the International winner has been sired by Montjeu, who is also the father of 2011 champion Sarah Lynx. Joshua Trees first victory came in 2010. Joshua Tree won the 1 1/2-mile Grade 1 event on a yielding turf in 2:35.45 at Woodbine Racetrack. Hyper was second three-quarters of a length back with Seismos taking third in cool windy conditions. Joel Rosario, the jockey aboard Hyper, felt his horse would have enough of a kick to take the lead down the stretch but couldnt match Joshua Tree. "I thought he would pick it up a little more turning for home," he said. "But that horse (Joshua Tree) had another kick." Andrea Atzeni, who rode Seismos to third place, said his horse raced gamely. "Hes a tough horse," Atzeni said. "He came off the bridle very early but to be fair to him, once I set up down he kicked home all the way to the line with the winner. "Joshua Tree was a bit better and he quickened away from us." The remainder of the field, in order of finish, was: Now We Can; Temeraine; Slumber; Forte Dei Marmi; Stormy Len; Lucayan; and Perfect Timber, the lone Canadian-bred horse in the race. Joshua Tree paid $15.30, $7.20 and $4.50. Hyper returned $6.90 and $4.60 while Seismos paid $6. The International field was reduced to 10 after Canadian-bred Irish Mission scratched to run in the $500,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes, a 1 1/4-mile turf event for fillies and mares. Irish Mission finished a distant seventh in a race Irish-breds took the first three spots in as 2-1 favourite Tannery won by a head over 7-1 pick Fitful Skies in 2:07.13 with Moment In Time taking third in the 10-horse field. Joshua Tree earned his seventh victory in 31 career starts and the $600,000 winners share boosted his overall earnings past $3.9 million. Stringer had a feeling Joshua Tree had another good race in him based upon how easily he travelled to Toronto from England. Joshua Tree arrived at Woodbine on Tuesday and immediately settled into his new surroundings. "When we put him in the crate at the airport (in Amsterdam), he was almost like, Are we going back to Canada?" Stringer said. "When he came here he walked into the place he stayed last year and he settled immediately. "He drank immediately, he ate immediately. He was never in any way bothered. He came here fit. Our job was to keep him in one piece and thats what we did." Buy Adidas Stan Smith Uk . 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However, he appeared to confirm a report on Twitter from TSN this week that Johnson was on Montreals negotiation list.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Blackhawks seek to bounce back on their current road trip Friday night as they visit the NHL-leading Anaheim Ducks. The Blackhawks opened up a seven-game swing with a shootout victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins before the All-Star break, their second win in a row overall, but were topped 4-3 by the hosting Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night. Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane each finished with a goal and an assist, Andrew Shaw also lit the lamp and Corey Crawford allowed four goals on 27 shots for Chicago. I think we might have sat back a little bit and waited for them to come to us, said Kane. Usually when we do that, bad things happen. The Blackhawks now sit third in the Central Division, two points ahead of Winnipeg and two back of the second-place St. Louis Blues. Crawford expects to start tonight with Antti Raanta slated to go on Saturday versus the San Jose Sharks. Crawford is 8-4-1 lifetime verssus the Ducks with a 1.dddddddddddd95 goals against average, .924 save percentage and two shutouts in 14 games (13 starts). Anaheim, meanwhile, is in action for a second straight night having had a six- game win streak halted with a 6-3 loss to the Sharks on Thursday night. Ilya Bryzgalov gave up all six goals -- five in the second period -- on 25 shots and Frederik Andersen turned aside all eight shots fired his way in relief. If I made a couple of saves on some of those goals, it might be different, said Bryzgalov. Andrew Cogliano, Patrick Maroon and Matt Beleskey all lit the lamp for the Ducks, who lead the NHL with 70 points. Anaheim has lost three of its past four to Chicago, including a 4-1 setback on Nov. 28. Andersen allowed three goals on 37 shots to take the loss in his first career meeting with the Blackhawks. Crawford, meanwhile, posted 23 saves and Kane scored twice, while Shaw had a goal and an assist. ' ' '