Explode Crowned Canadian Derby Victor

Ole Nielsen's Explode made the 90th edition of the CA$250,000 (US$188,371) Canadian Derby (G3) at Century Mile one to remember Aug. 18. The Trappe Shot  gelding was promoted to first following a steward's inquiry, which upheld a claim of foul lodged against Journeyman in the stretch. 

It was a bumpy start from the gate for Explode, who settled in the middle of the pack in second. Sharp Dressed Beau set the pace in the two path, leading the 12-horse field through fractions of :23.25, :47.21, and 1:11.21 for six furlongs. 

Six wide on the backstretch, Journeyman was guided up to duel with Sharp Dressed Beau at the three-eighths pole. In command by a length, he was pressed to his immediate outside by Explode—trained by Mark Cloutier and ridden by Amadeo Perez—and the two prepared to duel as they entered the stretch. 

Drifting out in the lane, Journeyman bumped Explode before straightening, and they battled for dominance with the wire in sight. Journeyman inched clear to cross the finish first by a neck in a final time of 2:01.52 on a fast track. 

But the celebrations for Journeyman's connections were short-lived. 

After a claim of foul was lodged by Perez stating interference in the lane, the steward's review upheld the claim, and Journeyman was disqualified to second. 

New York invader Final Jeopardy took third, 4 3/4 lengths back. Call It a Wrap, Kaziranga, Flatout Winner, Sharp Dressed Beau, Ranger Up, Senor Friday, Parking Permit, Equivocal, and Miltontown completed the order of finish. 

This year's renewal of the Canadian Derby was the first to be held at Century Mile. The race for 3-year-olds was previously run at Northlands Park.

It was the fourth consecutive score for Explode, who picked up victories in the June 2 River Rock Casino Handicap and June 30 Chris Loseth Handicap at Hastings, followed by a July 27 allowance win at Century Mile. 

"Winning the Canadian Derby would be a boyhood dream," Nielsen told Horse Racing Alberta after Explode's allowance score. "I'm an Edmonton boy. I was raised here. I went to the University of Alberta and then moved to Vancouver to go to the University of British Columbia."

Explode picked up his first stakes win at 2 when he took the listed Ascot Graduation Stakes at Hastings. 

Bred in Kentucky by Flaxman Holdings, Explode is the fourth foal out of the Kingmambo mare Light Blow, who has also produced stakes-placed runner Light of Joy. The mare has an Air Force Blue  yearling and foaled a filly by Karakontie  April 13. Explode was consigned by Lane's End to the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where he was purchased by Nielsen for $2,500.  

Explode now has a 6-3-1 record from 10 starts, with earnings of $210,342.