Diamondmaze invades for local derby

In what looks like a wideopen event, the Canterbury Park invader Diamondmaze is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in Monday’s $75,000 Manitoba Derby, a nine-furlong route for 3-year-olds at Assiniboia Downs.

Diamondmaze toiled in the maiden special weight ranks at Fair Grounds and in Kentucky until he broke through on the turf at Canterbury on June 24. He most recently employed front-running tactics there on the dirt and got home on top by 6 3/4 lengths after holding a substantial lead in the one-mile allowance, for which he got an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.

Quincy Hamilton retains the mount on the Joe Berndttrained Diamondmaze, a Kentucky-bred by classic winner Shackleford who is owned by Lothenbach Stables.

Wit t’ s dollar night could vie for favoritism with Diamondmaze off his daylight victory at Assiniboia in the one-mile Harry Jeffrey Stakes. Trained by Jerry Gourneau, he was previously second to Plentiful as the even-money favorite in his local debut in the six-furlong Golden Boy Stakes.

The need-the-lead type Escape Clause, the lone filly in the lineup, figures to set the pace if Diamondmaze is rated early. She is riding a fiverace win streak capped by a 9 3/4-length triumph in the seven-furlong Jack Hardy Stakes. She nearly beat the boys in last year’s Winnipeg Futurity.

Plentiful had won three consecutive stakes before ending up second as the favorite in the July 15 Harry Jeffrey. He was claimed for a bargain $15,000 by trainer Murray Duncan at Oaklawn in April.

Trainer Robertino Diodoro, who captured last year’s Manitoba Derby with Inside Straight, entered longshots Tizfun and Coors Lute in this 69th running of the race.

Tizfun ran second in backto-back maiden special weight contests at Oaklawn before a failed turf experiment in a $75,000 claimer in May at Belmont. A slow start led to a third-place finish as the favorite most recently in a six-furlong maiden special at Prairie Meadows.

The cleverly named Coors Lute, a son of champion sprinter Midnight Lute, was recently claimed for $16,000 from a thirdplace finish in a one-turn route at Belmont. Diodoro possesses excellent numbers in the first start off a claim and is adding blinkers to the gelding’s equipment. Bet Assinboia Downs with DRF Bets: drfbets.com

The Lone Star shipper Shaded was claimed from a runner-up finish for $20,000 on July 1 by trainer Terry Eoff, who sent him out to finish a wide 10th on the grass three weeks later.

The outsider Stonehart Ridge checked in fifth in the Harry Jeffrey, his first start since being claimed for a mere $3,500 on June 30.

◗ The $25,000 Manitoba Oaks, a one-mile test for 3-year-old fillies, kicks off the eight-race card at 1:45 p.m. Central. Off a fast allowance score on the Lone Star turf, Witt’s Town appears to be a standout in the Oaks. Her stablemate, Witt Seven, is also in solid turf form. Tadaa has been chasing Escape Clause in local stakes.