Armadas Battle in Ontario Derby With Ironstone, Luckman

The CA$150,000 Ontario Derby (G3), for 3-year-olds, and the CA$125,000 Ontario Damsel, for 3-year-old fillies, co-headline the 10-race card Oct. 23 at Woodbine.

Trainer Willie Armata and his father, fellow conditioner Vito Armata, each have a legitimate contender in the Ontario Derby, a 1 1/8-mile main track tilt that includes multiple stakes winner Ironstone , trained by the younger Armata, and Luckman , campaigned by the elder Armata, who sent out the bay gelding to his first stakes victory last time out in the Toronto Cup Stakes.

A grey son of Mr Speaker  , Ironstone has been a model of consistency throughout his 11 races. Sporting a 2-4-3 record, the colt, who took last year's Simcoe Stakes and Clarendon Stakes, was fourth in this year's Queen's Plate Stakes and second in the Prince of Wales Stakes, the opening two jewels in the Canadian Triple Crown.

Owned by Tequesta Racing and Jupiter Leasing Co., Ironstone has never finished worse than fifth in his career.

Although winless in 2022, the sophomore, bred in Ontario by Kingview Farms, has a second and a trio of thirds from five starts.

"I'm 100% proud of him," said Willie Armata. "He's going out there and giving us the best he can every single time we bring him over. He's coming into the race in really good order. He's had a couple of nice works, he's happy, and he's ready. Unfortunately, we have to run with 'Papa Vit,' but what are you going to do? I usually don't like to run against dad if we don't have to, but on this occasion, we will."

Vito Armata, who sent out 82-1 T J's Lucky Moon to win the 2002 Queen's Plate, will once again saddle Luckman, who has fared exceptionally well since he claimed the horse for CA$25,000 June 24.

Launching his career at Woodbine last August, Luckman posted a pair of seconds in four starts before heading south to open his 2022 campaign. After tough results at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Keeneland, and Churchill Downs, he returned to Woodbine to break his maiden in June.

Luckman has won three consecutive races since arriving at his new stable, four straight including his win on the day he was claimed.

The son of Empire Maker  heads into the Ontario Derby off a victory in the Toronto Cup Sept. 10, when he stormed down the lane to notch a neck win in the one-mile test over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

"I liked the horse since he was a baby," said Vito Armata after the Toronto Cup. 

Luckman, bred by Tenlane Farm, is 4-2-0 from 13 starts.

"Both horses, they have different styles," offered Willie. "That helps. Dad's horse likes to close, and our horse likes to be forwardly placed, so they will each run their own race."

The Ontario Derby could mark the end of one facet of Ironstone's career. For now, the plan for next season is to focus on sprint races.

The Ontario Damsel, at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta, includes multiple graded stakes winner Souper Hoity Toity , and multiple stakes winner Sister Seagull .

Entries: Ontario Derby (G3)

Woodbine, Sunday, October 23, 2022, Race 9

• Grade III
• 1 1/8m
• All Weather Track
• $150,000
• 3 yo
• 5:42 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Bringer of Rain (ON)	Omar Moreno	120	Barbara J. Minshall	12/1
2	2Mannix (IRE)	Patrick Husbands	120	Mark E. Casse	2/1
3	3The Minkster (ON)	David Moran	120	Daniel J. Vella	5/1
4	4Luckman (KY)	Daisuke Fukumoto	122	Vito Armata	5/2
5	5Ironstone (ON)	Kazushi Kimura	120	W. V. Armata	7/5

Entries: Ontario Damsel S.

Woodbine, Sunday, October 23, 2022, Race 3

• STK
• 1 1/16m
• All Weather Track
• $125,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 2:22 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Love to Run (KY)	Declan Carroll	118	Mark E. Casse	6/1
2	2Souper Hoity Toity (KY)	Patrick Husbands	122	Mark E. Casse	3/5
3	3Crystal Ship (KY)	Kazushi Kimura	118	W. John Bourke	12/1
4	4Lady Brew (ON)	David Moran	118	Steven Chircop	8/1
5	5Sister Seagull (ON)	Antonio A. Gallardo	122	Catherine Day Phillips	5/2