Henry S. Witt Jr.’s QUARRY relished the 1 1/4 mile distance of the Grade 3 CANADIAN DERBY at Century Mile in Nisku, Alberta, on August 19 and came away with the bulk of the $200,000 purse.
The three-year-old gelded son of War of Will – Black Dynamite by More Than Ready, trained by Jerry Gourneau with Damario Bynoe riding, broke well and tracked longshot Debrush early just off the rail, while a host of others came on his outside, some who were fanned six wide. When crowding occurred into the backstretch, Bynoe and Quarry lost some ground.
“I was off to a good start, but I got shuffled back on the first turn, so I just waited and waited.”
The pair ended up some five lengths off Debrusk, who did a good job slowing the pace down for the first two furlongs, but sped things up to the half-mile mark.
The early fractions were 24.43, 47,47 and 1:11.67 and Quarry was given a cue by Bynoe around the final turn and the early move proved to be the winning move.
Despite being wide off the turn, Quarry opened up a clear lead and then held strong as Big Curl charged late only to come up half a length short.
Big Curl followed the winner into the stretch and was second by a nose off a troubled Direct Strike, who was bottled up for half the race, had trouble finding a lane in the stretch, and then closed fast when he got clear. The final time was 2:06.94 and Quarry, at 9-to-1, paid $21.40. The winning Beyer Speed Figure was 69.
This was the first Canadian Derby win for longtime owner and trainer combination of Witt and Gourneau, who are the perennial leaders at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg.
Witt claimed Quarry from breeder Claiborne Farms for $80,000 this spring after the gelding had broken his maiden at Churchill Downs.
Following an unplaced run at Ellis Park, Quarry arrived at Assiniboia Downs where he was third in an optional claiming race at even money. He then finished second in the Manitoba Derby to Western Warrior, the latter who was favoured at Century Mile, but faded to last.
“We think Quarry didn’t see Western Warrior late in the Manitoba Derby because he was wearing full cup blinkers,” said Witt, who has a ranch near Waco, Texas. “Jerry fixed that. And we really thought the distance would help.”
Witt, who had basketball, baseball and rodeo scholarships – he earned all-state honours in football and basketball – and owns a successful auto glass business, met Gourneau just over a decade ago.
“We’ve been together for about twelve years,” said Gourneau. “I ran horses for him in the south, mideast and midwest. Our partnership reaches beyond family; we talk every day, talk through everything and he’s a pleasure to work for. He is not afraid to spend money and he’s in the game to have fun.”
Quarry is the third stakes winner for Preakness Stakes (G1) winner War of Will. Quarry’s dam, Black Dynamite, won one of six races and is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Killer Graces and multiple graded stakes winner Chocolate Ride.
Quarry is Black Dynamite’s third foal; her fourth is the two-year-old Blame Thrower, placed in his first race this year. The mare has an Olympiad yearling colt and a Prince of Monaco weanling filly.
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