TORONTO - Rahy's Attorney and jockey Slade Callaghan delivered a stunning performance Sunday in the $1-million Woodbine Mile.

The Canadian-owned four-year-old went off as a 12-1 longshot but took the lead coming off the turn, then held off hard-charging filly Ventura to not only capture the $600,000 winner's share but also a $60,000 bonus for being Ontario-bred. And he also secured a berth in the Breeders' Cup Mile event next month at Santa Anita Park in California.

But the owners of Rahy's Attorney - Ellie Boje Farms, Jim and Jean MacLellan, Mitch Peters and Dean Read - have a big decision to make. In order to get Rahy's Attorney into the big race, they will have to pay a nine per cent supplement fee (US$180,000) because Rahy's Attorney wasn't originally nominated for the $2-million Breeders' Cup Mile.

Considering what the connections took in for Sunday's win, money wouldn't appear to be an overwhelming problem.

"We've love to be there," said Joe MacLellan, another part-owner. "He shows he belongs."

"We'll have to talk to Ian (trainer Ian Black) first."

And Black says there's a lot to consider.

"He's not a Breeders' Cup (nominated) horse so that makes it very prohibitive," he said.

All eyes in the race were squarely on American horse Kip Deville, North America's top-ranked miler trained by Rick Dutrow Jr., the conditioner for Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown. But like Big Brown, who finished last in the Belmont in his quest for the U.S. Triple Crown, Kip Deville struggled badly when the race was on the line.

The 1-2 favourite, which came in having won his last three races, broke into the lead from the start and stayed in front until the final turn when Rahy's Attorney stormed into the lead. But instead of putting up a valiant challenge, Kip Deville faltered down the stretch, finishing a disappointing fifth in the eight-horse field, five lengths off the pace.

"He did not try today," said Cornelio Velasquez, Kip Deville's jockey. "He wasn't running today".

"Whether he did not like the track, I don't know. The position (post four) was fine."

Dutrow also struggled to find a reason for Kip Deville's shocking performance.

"Maybe he didn't like it," Dutrow said. "I'm not going to cry and complain about it."

"We can't explain anything why he didn't fire. He had everything go his way. He's usually run good on soft courses. I didn't know if he didn't like the grass or not today. I'll try to figure out what his (Kip Deville's) excuse is. I'm sure he's got one."

Callaghan admitted he took a chance asking Rahy's Attorney to make his final kick so early in the race but said it was a calculated risk. Rany's Attorney won the race in 1:36.14.

"I realized we were going a little too slow for my horse and I figured it was either now or never at that point in the race," Callaghan said. "I just figured he had to kick for home a little further out than you would normally do, especially with the E.P. Taylor Course is so long down the lane".

"But I think I caught a few people by surprise."

No one more than Black.

"I thought he (Callaghan) had gone too soon when he turned for home," Black said. "It turned out be a great ride because he had been running further and he was fit to run longer.

"Kip Deville and the filly (5-2 second pick Ventura) were pretty awesome-looking. I was hoping we'd get a piece."

Rahy's Attorney paid $27.30, $8.70 and $9.30. Ventura returned $4.20 and $4.90 while Just Rushing paid $9.90.

Rahy's Attorney became the fourth four-year-old to win this event but first to do so from the No. 2 post.

Also on Sunday, British-bred Champs Elysees, the 7/2 third choice, won the $750,000 Northern Dancer Turf, a 1 1/2-mile event, on a yielding course. Garrett Gomez, North America's leading rider, took Champs Elysees to the victory by a nose in the Grade 1 event in 2:32.02 for the $450,000 winner's share.

Champ Elysees paid $9.20, $4.60 and $3.30. German-bred Quijano, which was third in last year's Pattison International and the 2-1 race favourite, was second and returned $3.50 and $2.90. Seaside Retreat was third by half a length, paying $4.

As well, J'Ray, a 6-1 selection, captured the $300,000 Canadian Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile Grade 2 event on a yielding turf. J'Ray paid $15.10, $8.60 and $3.80. Second-place finisher Callwood Dancer paid $15.60 and $5.50 while Forever Together returned $2.40.

The Woodbine Mile victory was just the second of the season for Rahy's Attorney and seventh of his career. Five have come on turf and the $660,000 winner's share boosted his career earnings over $1.1 million.

The win was also a sweet one for Callaghan, who in 1987 was told by doctors he'd never ride again after sustaining a serious shoulder injury in a riding accident. Callaghan not only got back on a horse, but won his first race back.

However, the Woodbine-based Callaghan called Sunday's victory the biggest of his thoroughbred racing career.

"I usually don't get too emotional at all, I don't usually celebrate too much," he said. "But definitely today is one of those few days I'm a little bit emotional.

"It means the world." It also had special meaning for Black, who earned his first career Queen's Plate victory last year as the conditioner for Mike Fox.

"The Plate was great but this is a Grade 1 internationally recognized race," Black said. "The Queen's Plate, everybody here wants to win the Queen's Plate but this was pretty large today."