Post positions will be drawn on Tuesday, September 7 for the 92nd Canadian Derby (G3) at 1 1/4 miles, the highlight race of the 2021 Century Mile meeting.

There are 11 horses nominated to the $125,000 Derby including Alberta’s top 3-year-old TONY’S TAPIT (Tonalist – Autumn Wedding by Runaway Groom) who has five straight wins including all four outings at Century Mile. Purchased privately by Kirk Sutherland through trainer Jim Brown during the colt’s good runs at Turf Paradise, Tony’s Tapit won the Western Canada Handicap at six furlongs in his second Alberta start and later the one-mile County Lathum Stakes. He recently won a 1 1/16 mile allowance race over a couple of his Derby rivals and will head to the post for the Derby as the favourite.

One fellow who has been rallying at Tony’s Tapit in recent starts is Lori and Martin Neyka’s BODEMONSTER, a $1,500 purchase at the 2019 Alberta Fall Mixed Sale. The Bodemeister – Aline’s Secret gelding is still maiden but improving with each outing for the Nekya’s Empire Equestrian. Trained by Rick Hedge, Bodemonster also has a fascinating background as he was bred by Toronto’s Mitchell Kursner who is the breeder of this year’s Queen’s Plate SAFE CONDUCT, also by Bodemeister. Kursner has only bred half a dozen horses who are racing and both Safe Conduct and Bodemonster were foaled at Mike Carroll’s former farm, Grandview.

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