A collections of recent purchases and claims in the U.S. will compete for the $125,000 MANITOBA DERBY at Assiniboia Downs on Monday, August 3. The 1 1/8 mile race on dirt is the signature event at the Winnipeg track and four of the nine starters are making their first start at Assiniboia.
WESTERN WARRIOR has been pegged as the 2 to 1 morning line favourite in the field of nine, which has two stakes winners, both at Assiniboia Downs in the field. Lance Giesbrecht and Gordon Christoff purchased Western Warrior from breeder Tracy Farmer since the grey gelding’s fifth place finish in an allowance race in late May at Churchill Downs. The Mark Casse-trained son of Essential Quality had won three races in succession after being gelded at Oaklawn Park this winter before he was fourth in the Bath House Row Stakes.
Dino Condilenios now trains Western Warrior, who sizzled in a 6 furlong workout at Century Mile on July 24 in 1:13.20. Due to rain and poor weather, Condilenios said he missed workouts with Western Warrior, a similar situation for many trainres of horses in Manitoba this summer.
One of the most intriguing horses in the Derby field is the Into Mischief colt DIRECT STRIKE, a maiden who has been second in two route races at Churchill Downs this year. He caught a very sloppy track last time when fourth but the top 2 finishers both came back with big wins.
Direct Strike, originally a $500,000 weanling purchase by Qatar Racing and partners in 2023, is now trained by Craig Smith for a group of 13 owners including Smokin Guns Stable, Jamie Bauder. High Ball Stable and Highfield Bloodstock. The rumoured price is about $160,000 (US). Some of the owners of Direct Strike were part of the ownership group of Attack, who won last year’s Manitoba Derby through the disqualification of Take Charge Tom, from trainer Robertino Diodoro’s barn.
Meanwhile, Diodoro is back for 2026 with Take Charge Tom’s half brother, the speedy Forty Twenty (Candy Ride (Arg)), a 2-time winner who just posted a 92 Beyer Speed Figure ion an allowance win at Lone Star Park on June 27.
Horses bought for the Derby include Quarry, an $80,000 claim from Claiborne Farm by Henry Witt, Jr. and Gethsemane, also am $80,000 claiming who races for Cattlemans Club.
The lone Canadian bred in the Derby field is REALLY RALIS, a BC-bred for Dennis Spence who has won three of his four starts including the Derby Trial on July 13.
The Manitoba Derby is part of the Jackpot Pick 5 wager which will have a carryover of almost $500,000. The Derby is race race 6 with a post time of 10:40 p.m. Eastern.
MEDIA KIT –
https://asdowns.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-manitoba-derby-media-kit.pdf
https://x.com/ChurchillDowns/status/2048502788699664554/video/1
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