The 73rd Manitoba Derby will be run Monday August 2 at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg and the race value returns to $100,000. The 1 1/8 mile dirt race is for 3-year-olds and 12 American-breds have been entered.
One of North America’s winningest trainers, ROBERTINO DIODORO, might have received his next Derby winner from a sale just two weeks ago. Diodoro, who has won three of the last five Manitoba Derbys, is the newest trainer for MYOPIC, who was bought by Clayton Weist for $200,000 on July 12 at the Fasig Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale at Saratoga from SF Bloodstock, the breeder. The colt had been trained by Bob Baffert for his first two races and then recently by Rodolphe Brisset who sent him out to win his maiden by six lengths at Indiana Grand with an 85 Beyer Figure on June 23.
True North Thoroughbreds’ FLASH OF GLORY won the Derby Trial on July 12 at one mile with a late gasp rally from off the pace. He edged longshot Witts Taquito and Warriors Hero in that race with a 51 Beyer Figure while multiple stakes winner City Champ was fatally injured.