Six Look to Make the Grade in Ontario Derby
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Photo: Michael Burns
Woodstock Stakes winner Curlin's Honor is among the six horses entered for the Ontario Derby
During a stakes-filled Woodbine card headlined by the Pattison Canadian International (G1T), an expected field of six 3-year-olds will contest the $125,000 Ontario Derby Oct. 13, where morning-line favorite Mr Ritz will try for his first graded victory.
Josie Carroll, who won the 2016 renewal with Amis Gizmo, trains the son of Oasis Dream for owner/breeder Earle Mack. Mr Ritz breezed through five furlongs on the all-weather track Oct. 5 in a bullet :59 3/5 to be the fastest of 25 at the distance that day.
In his most recent effort Mr Ritz took the Caesars Stakes at Indiana Grand Race Course by 2 3/4 lengths over grade 2 winner and grade 1-placed Untamed Domain. Fellow Ontario Derby entrant Curlin's Honor finished fifth in that one mile turf contest.
"We thought (the race) was a nice spot for him going a mile around two turns on the turf," said Charlie Carroll, who accompanied the colt to Indiana. "It worked out really well for us, and the jock (Jose Valdivia Jr.) rode fantastic. He followed everything Josie told him. He was able to carry himself through the first turn and not get locked down along the inside. This horse doesn't like to be in along the rail. He can be pretty aggressive."
One start prior, Mr Ritz won an allowance over the Woodbine turf. He started his racing career with a win in a novice weight for age race at Kempton Park in England as a 2-year-old, but after that lone start in December of 2017, he didn't race again until May of this year at Woodbine.
Consigned as a yearling to Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Mr Ritz was a $267,309 RNA. He is a half brother to Oceanographer, a group 3 winner in Australia.
Others taking on the 1 1/8 miles of the Ontario Derby include the Mark Casse-trained pair Curlin's Honor and Lookin to Strike.
In the only previous Woodbine start for Curlin's Honor, he won the six-furlong Woodstock Stakes on the synthetic track. However the Curlin colt has not won in three starts since then.
"His only synthetic race was extremely good," noted Casse, referring to the Woodstock. "We're just trying to see whether he'll stretch out or not."
Gary Barber's Lookin to Strike won his most recent start Sept. 9 going 1 1/16 miles over the Canadian track, and took a June 24 allowance at the same track and distance two starts prior. The son of Lookin At Lucky is seeking his first stakes victory.
Trainer Graham Motion brings in Queen's Plate fourth-place finisher Strike Me Down for Sam-Son Farm.
Woodbine, Saturday, October 13, 2018, Race 3Entries: Ontario Derby (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Curlin's Honor (FL)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
117
Mark E. Casse
4/1
2
2Lookin to Strike (KY)
Gary Boulanger
117
Mark E. Casse
6/1
3
3Mr Ritz (GB)
Eurico Rosa Da Silva
119
Josie Carroll
7/5
4
4Strike Me Down (ON)
Jose L. Ortiz
117
H. Graham Motion
2/1
5
5Flight Deck (ON)
Jesse M. Campbell
117
Michael P. De Paulo
15/1
6
6Peppered (KY)
John R. Velazquez
117
Reade Baker
8/1
