Canterbury invader Smuggler’s Hold did not let the betting public down with a come from behind win in the 61st running of the Manitoba Lotteries Derby.
Stepping onto the track as the favourite, Smuggler’s Hold, trained by Rick Padilla, looked to have his work cut out for him coming out of the chute and onto the main track. His labouring stride required jockey Adolfo Morales to use his stick early to even engage the horse in the race. “My horse was kind of lazy at the beginning,” said Morales, “but once I got him moving I was confident we’d get there.”
Hilton’s Cherokee was the early leader going past the large Derby crowd for the first time, with Wooden Ya Know It pressuring the Harry Jeffrey Memorial winner every step. The team set a blistering pace with a 22.2 first quarter, 46.1 half mile and six furlongs in 1:11.4.
Finally getting the horse interested in running down the backside, Smuggler’s Hold easily picked up horses one by one, catching up with the early leader Hilton’s Cherokee going into the final turn. Wooden Ya Know It packed it in early in the turn with Theglow taking up the challenge between horses. Smuggler’s Hold went three wide into the final turn and captured the lead turning for home.
The blistering early pace set by Hilton’s Cherokee and Wooden Ya Know It worked to the advantage of the closers to the point that the last three horses at the beginning of the race were the top three at the end.
Tease the Tiger, the Edmonton ship in, sat off the rail going into the first turn and swept by the majority of the field going into the far turn. Along with the winner, Theglow and Hilton’s Cherokee were the only other horses between him and the wire when they turned for home.
Trained by Monica Russell, Tease the Tiger and jockey Jake Barton were able to pass a tiring Hilton’s Cherokee in mid-stretch and got the best of Theglow in the final strides. Celtic Thane, a 16-1 longshot loading into the gate, was last with only three furlongs left. Following the same path as Tease the Tiger through the turn, the former $7500 claimer was closing like a freight train down the stretch. Celtic Thane overtook both Hilton’s Cherokee and Theglow in the burst of speed between horses in late stretch. Trained by Clayton Gray, Celtic Thane and jockey Carlos Marquez continued to close but ran out of real estate and just missed second at the wire.
Theglow, winner of the Golden Boy earlier this year, put in a very game performance capturing fourth in his first start since June 19. Theglow was trained by Chad Torevell and ridden by Rohan Singh.
The Manitoba Lotteries Derby wrapped up a thrilling weekend of races that saw a crowd of more than 4500 people at the local oval enjoying a holiday afternoon of racing.
Graduating with Honors
The Graduation Stakes for 2-year-olds began an all-stakes late pick three and was won by local filly Honorable Lady. Second in the Debutante to Ruby’s Big Band, Honorable Lady went nose to nose with One To Ponder, imported from Woodbine by local owners Arnason and Ziprick. Trained by Clayton Gray, Honorable Lady took a clear advantage turning for home and never looked back.
No Maddy, trained by Shelley Brown, redeemed herself from a disappointing Debutante Stakes with a fast closing second to get the best of the boys as well.
The Oaks goes to a Queen
A very competitive Assiniboia Oaks was won by Chicago invader Mindy Queen. Mindy Queen was able to get the best of Chantilly Stakes winner Lady Countdown midway through the final turn and pulled off to win by more than nine lengths. The impressive Oaks winner was trained by Joel Berndt who returned to the place of his first-ever win as a trainer and took home the big Assiniboia Oaks pay day for owners Bud and Majel Ison. Mindy Queen was ridden by Tanner Riggs. A fast closing Himynameissarah came up second best. Himynameissarah was trained and ridden by Derby winners, Rick Padilla and Adolfo Morales.
Lady Countdown, trained by Charlie Smith, lead through the first part of the race but could not respond to the closing kick of Mindy Queen missing second by only half a length.
Monsoon Rain speared by upstart
The R.J. Speers Memorial on Saturday night saw the reign of Monsoon Rain come to an end. Monsoon Rain could not respond to the powerful up-the-rail kick of winner Grow Up in the final turn.
Grow Up sat in behind Monsoon Rain allowing jockey Rocco Bowen to be in position to take advantage of a struggling champion turning for home. Trained by Bert Blake, Grow Up pulled away from the overwhelming favourite to won by two lengths.
No Reply, trained by Emile Corbel, who pressured Monsoon Rain throughout the backstretch was able to hold off a fast closing Paullinus for second. Paullinus was trained by Blair Miller.
Monsoon Rain faded to fourth.
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