Inside Straight Trumps Canadian Derby Field

Inside Straight, who scored his first stakes win last out after several transformations, tops the oversubscribed field for the Aug. 20 Canadian Derby (Can-III) at Northlands Park Racetrack and Casino in Edmonton, Alberta.

Fourteen were entered for the 1 3/8-mile, $150,000 Derby, which is limited to a dozen starters. All carry 122 pounds.

A son of Super Saver   and half brother to stakes-placed Conquest Superstep, Inside Straight is making his third start since being gelded and relocated from the New York-based stable of Todd Pletcher to Western Canada.

While racing for Pletcher and WinStar Farm, the 3-year-old who cost $160,000 as a yearling broke his maiden as a prohibitive favorite at Saratoga Race Course in his second start and won three of 10 starts before changing barns.

Now trained by Robertino Diodoro for owner Randy Howg, Inside Straight stalked the pace before taking over to win the $75,000 Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs Aug. 1.

Also returning from the Manitoba Derby is Calmar Stables and Ranch’s second-place finisher Ruck, a Kentucky-bred son of Lookin At Lucky   trained by Reade Baker. The 3-year-old colt has two wins and two seconds from eight starts.

Three other stakes winners entered in the Canadian Derby are Alberta Derby winner Law Master, a Kentucky-bred gelding; Ready Intaglio, a multiple stakes winner who has won or placed in 13 of 15 starts and cost $1,000 as a yearling; and Lord Vancouver, a British Columbia-bred who has also made 15 career starts and enters off a win in the British Columbia Cup Stellar's Jay Handicap.