Derby Final Jeopardy’s to lose

The Grade 3, $250,000 Canadian Derby will be contested for the 90th time Sunday. However, it is a brand new game with it being held at Century Mile for the first time. Instead of 3-yearolds running around four turns going 1 3/8 miles at Northlands Park, Century allows for a traditional 1 1/4-mile race around two turns.

Century opened earlier this year as the only one-mile track in Western Canada. Due to the tight turns, it has one of the longest stretch runs in North America.

The new configuration could have a lot do with this year’s Derby drawing one of the strongest fields in its illustrious history. The Derby goes as the last of 10 races and is part of a multi-track pick four that includes the $75,000 Century Mile Handicap and the 10th and 11th races from Woodbine.

Final Jeopardy has been installed as the 8-5 morningline favorite. If he runs as well as he did for trainer Jason Servis, when he finished second behind Code of Honor in the Grade 3 Dwyer at Belmont Park in his last start July 6, he’s the winner. In his previous race, Code of Honor was elevated to second in the Kentucky Derby.

Final Jeopardy was recently purchased by Peter and James Redekop. The Kentucky-bred son of Street Sense is now trained by Phil Hall, the leading trainer at Hastings.

Hall likes the way Final Jeopardy handled the ship from New York to Edmonton.

“He seems to handle the track at Century well,” Hall said. “I don’t want to take the Servis out of him, so we’re basically following his lead. Jason was very generous, and one of his assistants told us how they train him. We’re just trying to keep him happy.”

Final Jeopardy will break from post 8 with Rigo Sarmiento aboard. He has tactical speed and will likely be forwardly placed.

Trainer Eoin Harty is expecting a big performance from Journeyman, who will break from post 7 with Dane Nelson riding.

A Godolphin homebred son of Animal Kingdom, Journeyman is coming off a win going a mile on turf in a first-level allowance race with a $75,000 claiming option July 6 at Arlington Park.

“We’re always looking for races for our 3-year-olds, and he has handled dirt well at Tampa, so this seemed like a reasonable spot,” Harty said. “I didn’t think it would come up this tough, though. He’s improved with every start, and we just aren’t sure how good he will ultimately be. The mile and a quarter is the big question for all of them. The last eighth of a mile will be decided by genetics, and he has the genetics. ”

Explode, trained by Mark Cloutier, will be going for his fourth win in a row. Following his romp in the $50,000 Chris Loseth on July 27 at Hastings, he tuned up for the Derby with a win over the top sophomore filly in Alberta, Im Even Im Leavin, in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race on July 27 at Century.

Trainer Robertino Diodoro is shooting for his third straight win with two horses in the Derby, although the 2017 version is still being decided in the courts.

Miltontown made his first start for Diodoro in the Iowa Derby, where he finished eighth

He will be ridden by Rico Walcott, who missed the first part of the meet due to a brain tumor. Walcott, 30, has been the dominant rider in Alberta for the previous nine years.

The other Diodoro entrant, Senor Friday, came from a stalking position to win the Harry F. Jeffrey Stakes on July 13 at Assiniboia Downs.

Diodoro is well aware of what his horses are up against.

“Final Jeopardy looks like a monster,” Diodoro said. “They have to run the race, though, and my horses have been at Century for the past couple of weeks and are training very well.

Century Mile

Diodoro also trains Gato Guapo who will be a short price to win the $75,000 Century Mile Handicap. The one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew 11.

Gato Guapo stands out from a Beyer perspective. Prior to his third-place finish going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf in a $35,000 optional-claiming race on July 14 at Canterbury, he finished second to last year’s Canadian Derby winner, Sky Promise, in a one-mile race on dirt there.

The Coultier-trained Coulterberry, a nine-time winner at Hastings, could thrive in his first try at the distance.

Apalachee Bay won the $50,000 John Longden 6000 at Hastings for Hall on June 16. However, he finished last as the favorite in the $50,000 Lieutenant Governors’ on July 14. He could give the favorite all he can handle if he shows up with his best stuff.