UNCHARACTERISTIC, claimed for $8,000 in September 2020 from a 3 1/2 furlong maiden win by Adam Isfeld, charged past heavily-favoured MYOPIC to win the 73rd Manitoba Derby Aug. 2 at Assiniboia Downs. The grey 3-year-old gelding by Texas Wildcatter, a British Columbia stallion, benefited from a good trip under jockey Alexander Marti, saving ground early in the 1 1/8 mile race before angling out to reel in Myopic who competed for trainer Robertino Diodoro.
Racing greenly once in front, Uncharacteristic won by 1 1/4 lengths in the $100,000 race and stopped the teletimer in 1:53.60. Trained by Robert VanOverschot at Hastings racecourse in Vancouver and bred in Kentucky by Glen Todd, the winner was making his fifth career start and third start this year following a second-place finish in an $8,000 claiming race and a July 12 allowance race.
Myopic was 1-to-5 in the field of 12 based on his six-length maiden win at Indiana Grand on June 23 and 85 Beyer Speed Figure. Purchased by a partnership including Arnold Bennewith and Clayton Wiest for $200,000 from a Kentucky Horses of Racing Sale in July, Myopic was pressured early by longshot Stone Cafe but then cleared the field at the halfway point. The son of Candy Ride (Arg) fought on when challenged by Uncharacteristic while the pair drew off by 10 lengths from the rest of the field but finally gave way and landed second.