The Queen's Plate at Woodbine isn't the only stakes race for 3-year-olds going a mile and a quarter this weekend in Canada.
In Edmonton at Century Mile, an overflow field of 12, plus one also-eligible, has been entered for the CA$200,000 Canadian Derby (G3), among them the 1-2 finishers from the Manitoba Derby, Red Knobs and Great Escape. Both colts were additions to the barn of trainer Robertino Diodoro this summer.
Red Knobs, claimed for $50,000 from a second-place finish at Churchill Downs July 3, defeated Great Escape by 1 3/4 lengths Aug. 1 in the Manitoba Derby for owners Robert G. Nokes and Robert K. Nokes. Chasing his stablemate from the start, he took command inside the eighth pole and pulled away late.
Jorge Carreno, aboard in the Manitoba Derby, returns in the irons.
Great Escape, who raced into May for WinStar Farm and trainer Rudy Brisset, has since been second twice in as many starts for Diodoro and owners Arnold Bennewith, Rick Wiest, Clayton Wiest, Lana Wiest, Randy Howg, R6 Stables, Gary Kropp, and Norman Tremblay. Prior to running behind Red Knobs, he was 6 1/2 lengths behind Prayforpeace in the Derby Trial at Assiniboia Downs July 11.
Prayforpeace, also racing Saturday, disappointed in the Manitoba Derby, running a distant fourth.
Other top prospects for the Canadian Derby include Gunfighter, Soaringforthesun, and Regal Riot.
Saturday's card further includes three supporting stakes worth CA$100,000 apiece.
Century Mile Racetrack and Casino, Saturday, August 20, 2022, Race 10Entries: Canadian Derby (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Clancy's Pistol (KY) Rafael Zenteno Jr. 126 Ken Bell 15/1 2 2Red Knobs (KY) Jorge Carreno 126 Robertino Diodoro 3/1 3 3Great Escape (KY) Rico W. Walcott 126 Robertino Diodoro 6/1 4 4Gunfighter (KY) Antonio Ambrosio Reyes 126 John Snow 5/1 5 5Asyoubelieve (BC) Jose Mariano Asencio 126 Tim Rycroft 12/1 6 6Above and Beyond (AB) Keishan Balgobin 126 Jodey Payne 15/1 7 7Sea Splendor (KY) Richard Lunan 126 Craig Robert Smith 25/1 8 8Soaringforthesun (BC) Amadeo Perez 126 Edgar Mendoza 9/2 9 9Flashfordani (AB) N'Rico Prescod 126 Greg Tracy 20/1 10 10Prayforpeace (KY) Enrique Alonzo Gonzalez 126 Jerry Gourneau 15/1 11 11Itsmyday (BC) Mauricio Malvaez 126 Robert VanOverschot 10/1 12 12Regal Riot (BC) Efrain Hernandez 126 Robert J. Anderson 8/1 13 13Countrified (KY) Silvino Morales 126 Robert C. Kingston 30/1
