Walcott Bids for Sixth Canadian Derby on Synergy

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Walcott Bids for Sixth Canadian Derby on Synergy
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Photo: Four Footed Fotos
At Attention, a threat to favored Synergy in the Canadian Derby, wins the 2019 BC Cup Nursery Stakes

Jockey Rico Walcott has already won five runnings of the Canadian Derby, and Sept. 27 he'll look to add a sixth when he rides 3-1 morning-line favorite Synergy in the CA$100,000 race at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino in Alberta, Canada.

The meet's leading rider, winning with 57 of 162 mounts (35%) through Sept. 20, Walcott climbs aboard Synergy for trainer Barb Heads for the first time. All seven of the Sungold gelding's starts have come at Hastings Racecourse.

There, the 3-year-old has performed at a high level, notching five victories for owners Russell and Lois Bennett. This year, he is 3-for-3.

What Synergy hasn't done is yet is run beyond 1 1/16 miles, though few of his 10 rivals have, either. He is one of four runners pegged at morning odds of 6-1 or less, the others being At Attention (6-1), Maskwecis (4-1), and Mongolian Wind (9-2).

Of these, Peter Redekop's At Attention may prove a formidable rival. The gelded 3-year-old son of Shanghai Bobby was a three-length winner of the 1 /16-mile CTHS Sales Stakes at Hastings Sept. 5 and last year at 2 captured the BC Cup Nursery Stakes there.

Maskwecis and Mongolian Wind are also sharp, both 3-for-4 in 2020.

Eligible to improve is Something Natural (8-1) upon a recent third in the Manitoba Derby, his first start in the region after being claimed for $20,000 at Churchill Downs in June.

His trainer, Robertino Diodoro, is a three-time winner of the Canadian Derby, taking it with Sky Promise (2018), Edison (2014) and Broadway Empire (2013).

The race has its 91st running Sunday.

Something Natural runs for owners Rick, Clayton, and Lana Wiest, R 6 Stable, and Norman Tremblay—a partnership nearly identical to those that raced Sky Promise.

Three $75,000 stakes are part of the Sunday program at Century Mile.


Entries: Canadian Derby (G3)

Century Mile Racetrack and Casino, Sunday, September 27, 2020, Race 10

  • Grade III
  • 1 1/4m
  • Dirt
  • $100,000
  • 3 yo
  • 9:55 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Gambler (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Stanley Chadee Jr. 126 Jennifer Tourangeau 20/1
2 2Big Al's Vision (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Anastasios Chalaris 126 Carson Frey 40/1
3 3At Attention (BC) Antonio Whitehall 126 Dino K. Condilenios 6/1
4 4Rail Hugger (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Shamaree Muir 126 Elige Bourne 12/1
5 5Bare Back Jack (AB) Rigo Sarmiento 126 Tim Rycroft 12/1
6 6Mr. Unusual (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Nirone Austin 126 Jennifer Tourangeau 30/1
7 7Maskwecis (AB) Rey Williams 126 Ron K. Smith 4/1
8 8Real Grace (KY) Mauricio Malvaez 126 Shelley Brown 15/1
9 9Something Natural (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Enrique Alonzo Gonzalez 126 Robertino Diodoro 8/1
10 10Synergy (BC) Rico W. Walcott 126 Barbara Heads 3/1
11 11Mongolian Wind (KY) Wilmer Galviz 126 Wade Eno 9/2