Mano Dura Faces Full Field of 12 in Canadian Derby

The Manitoba Derby winner Mano Dura  seeks to set up a possible sweep of the first Western Canadian Triple Crown when he takes the next step in the Aug. 26 Canadian Derby (G3) at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino.

The Western Canadian Triple Crown connects the Aug. 7 $125,000 Manitoba Derby, Saturday's $200,000 Canadian Derby, and the Sept. 16 $125,000 British Columbia Derby (G3).

In addition to $450,000 in purse money, there is a $100,000 bonus for Mano Dura should the 3-year-old Keen Ice   colt win all three events.

Although the top four from the Manitoba Derby return for the Canadian Derby, morning line favoritism at 3-1 has been assigned to undefeated Sunbird , a two-time stakes winner at Hastings Racecourse. The Orb  gelding is four-for-four but, like the rest of the 12-horse field, is untested at this race's demanding 1 1/4-mile distance.

Mano Dura drew away to win the Manitoba Derby by 4 1/4 lengths, proving to be a sharp claim for owner Henry Witt and trainer Jerry Gorneau, who acquired their Derby winner in June at Lone Star Park for a $50,000 tag from owner-breeder Calumet Farm and Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. 

"I claimed him with one thought in mind—winning the Manitoba Derby," said Witt, who has won 625 races as an owner for earnings of more than $7.2 million. "And if we won that then the plan was always to go to the Canadian Derby."

Gorneau, a First Nations Chippewa from Turtle Mountain Reserve in Belcourt, N.D., who was just inducted into the North American Indigenous Hall of Fame, met Witt, a former racecar driver, at Fonner Park in Nebraska. 

"I know there will be tough horses in the Canadian Derby," Witt said. "It would sure be nice to win that. It's always nice to win, whether it's racecar driving or winning horse races, whether it's the Kentucky Derby or the Canadian Derby."