The Daily Racing Blog goes north of the border for this week’s race preview.
Three-year-olds take center stage Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 dollar Ontario Derby at Woodbine.
The race usually draws a mix of Ontario-bred and U.S.-bred colts and geldings and this year is no different.
Here is a brief look at this year’s field:
1. HE’S NOT JOKING [ML 8-1] Jockey: Fraser Aebly. Trainer: Josie Carroll. Was on the Kentucky Derby trail last spring but hasn’t raced since March 22nd when he finishing 11th in a field of 12 in the Jeff Ruby Stakes at Turfway Park. Began his career at Woodbine with two wins including a Grade 3 at 1 1/16 miles. IF, after a 28 week layoff, he returns to that form, he’s a threat.
2. MANSETTI [ML 8-5] Jockey: Pietro Moran. Trainer: Kevin Attard. Wired the field in Canada’s most prestigious race- the King’s Plate, two starts back. He then ran 2nd on the dirt in the Prince of Wales Stakes, losing to RUNAWAY AGAIN. Now, he’s back on his preferred surface and should have the advantage over his rivals.
3. PRETTY CAPABLE [ML 20-1] Jockey: Eswan Flores. Trainer: Mark Casse. Ships up from New York off of a 4th-place effort in a one-mile dirt race at Saratoga in July that was taken off the turf. All of his career starts have been on dirt, although his pedigree suggests he should handle an all-weather surface and the distance should be no problem.
4. RUNAWAY AGAIN [ML 9-5] Jockey: Ryan Munger. Trainer: Sid Attard. Was a no-show in the King’s Plate, finishing 10th of 13. Last month he rallied late in the 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales Stakes to beat MANSETTI by a half-length. He has shown more than enough in his brief career (including a blowout Maiden win on this track) to merit respect.
5. BOREALIS TRAIOL [ML 6-1] Jockey: Jose Campos. Trainer: Rachel Halden. After showing very little in his first three starts, he appreciated the switch from all-weather to turf and won a one-mile Maiden race here before almost capturing the third leg of Canada’s Triple Crown– the 1 ½-mile Breeders’ Stakes, September 28th at Woodbine.
6. WAGSTAFF [ML 8-1] Jockey: Rafael Hernandez. Trainer: Nathan Squires. Another contender who seems to prefer turf to all-weather as two of his three career victories have come on grass, and his all-weather win was in a race washed off that surface. Last out ran 5th in the one-mile Toronto Cup on turf but won three in a row prior to that and Saturday he gets the services of a top Woodbine jockey for the first time.
7. SPECIAL SESSIONS [ML 12-1] Jockey: Patrick Husbands. Trainer: Mark Casse. This colt is 2-for-4 lifetime on the all-weather track at Woodbine and will return to that surface after a non-effort on turf when he ran 9th in the Toronto Cup. He’s a deep closer and will need an unlikely fast pace to set up his rally.
The Ontario Derby is slated as race nine on a card of eleven, with a scheduled Post Time of 5:25.
Best of luck however you play it.
