Manitoba Derby favourite Take Charge Tom on his way to winning the Derby Trial for trainer Robertino Diodoro and owner Randy Howg. Rasheed Hughes in the saddle. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
By G.S. Thompson
The 77th running of the $125,000 Manitoba Derby is set for this Monday evening after an exciting week that included some sizzling 2-year-old performances.
Post Positions were drawn for the Derby at the annual Derby Press Conference on Thursday for a strong field of eight, headlined by Derby Trial winner and morning-line favourite Take Charge Tom, trained by four-time Manitoba Derby-winning trainer Robertino Diodoro, but this race could be much more wide open than it looks on paper.
Manitoba Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Ron Kostyshyn, with the Manitoba Derby Trophy, and Derby Belle Francine Fournier at the Derby post position draw on Thursday. (George Williams)
Lined up to face the favourite will be former Churchill Downs runner Acknowledge, trained by Wendy Anderson, who has won back-to-back Gold Cups at the Derby distance of 1 1/8-miles with Magic Tiger; Attack, who tested some very classy runners at Gulfstream Park and Keeneland this spring before arriving in the barn leading Alberta trainer Craig Robert Smith; Border Song, who could be on the upswing for trainer Robert Van Overschot, who won the Derby here in 2021 with Uncharacteristic.
The we’ve got Just Trust Me, a game speedster who finished second in both the Derby Trial and Golden Boy Stakes for sharp trainer Dewey Williams; Maldini, who won twice routing at Woodbine (DQ’d from one), conditioned by overachieving trainer Lise Pruitt; Mr Jaws, who was claimed three starts ago at Lone Star Park by five-time leading ASD trainer Jerry Gourneau and perennial leading ASD owner Henry S. Witt, Jr. and who immediately won for his new connections (make sure to watch the replay of his last race); and War Is Hell, who finished third in the Derby Trial for trainer Jason Homer, who has been lighting up the tote board all season here since arriving from Fonner Park.
War Is Hell is a longshot in the 77th running of the Manitoba Derby on Monday for hot trainer Jason Homer, and he certainly is handsome! (George Williams)
The running lines and full bios for all the Derby runners are now available for download in the Player Portal, as is the full Manitoba Derby night program, which features seven fabulous races with big fields, including the $50,000 Escape Clause Stakes and the $50,000 Harvey Warner Manitoba Mile.
The Derby evening card also features a $100,000 $1 Guaranteed Pick 4, and a mandatory payout on the 20-cent Jackpot Pick 5 pool, which currently sits at $465,217 and is expected to grow to at least three times that size by post time. The Derby evening card will also feature a chance to win a $100 wager on a Derby horse, a special Derby history display from track historian Bob Gates, a Derby hat/attire photo chance to win a $100 gift card, along with family fun including bouncy castles, face painting, and entertainment for the kids.
Something for everyone!
Two-Year-Olds Put On a Show
Wecanonlyimagine and groom/assistant trainer Susan Crane leave the winner’s circle after their victory in the $50,000 Debutante Stakes on Wednesday evening for trainer Jared Brown and ownership partner John Ganas. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
Wecanonlyimagine won the 36th running of the $50,000 Debutante Stakes on Wednesday evening for trainer Jared Brown and ownership partner John Ganas, with Neville Stephenson in the irons. The 2-year-old filly by Omaha Beach is now a perfect 2-for-2, and it looks like it will take a good one to beat her.
Wecanonlyimagine opened a three-length lead at one point in the five-furlong race and coasted home to win by a comfortable 1/14-lengths over Neytiri and jockey Ciera Pruitt, who was riding the daughter of Mendelssohn for mom Lise Pruitt and Arnason Farms. Neytiri was well back early and came flying late, and she’s also worth watching as the races stretch out.
Earlier on the card in the first race, trainer Devon Gittens turned loose Mighty Mikee, a 2-year-old Mitole gelding that bears watching after a sizzling debut. He opened a five-length lead early in the race, and it looked like he might have been going too fast, but when Silver Spiced from the Jared Brown barn came flying after him in the late turn, he just rebroke and ran away from his rival to win by 5 ½-lengths.
Bred in Manitoba by Larry Falloon, Might Mikee is owned by his breeder, McLaren Racing, and Anne Champion. A $32,000 purchase at the 2024 Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale, he certainly lived up to his name on Wednesday night.
See you Monday! Post time 7:30 PM.