New York Invader Heads Canadian Derby

It's a long trek from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to Edmonton, Alberta, but that's the path for Final Jeopardy.

After running a solid second to Code of Honor in Belmont Park's Dwyer Stakes (G3) July 6 for previous owners Gary and Mary West, the sophomore by Street Sense  has trained at Saratoga and heads west to take on a full field in Sunday's Canadian Derby (G3) at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino for new owners Peter and James Redekop.

The race for 3-year-olds moves to Century Mile this year after previously being conducted at Northlands Park.

Peter Redekop won the 2005 Canadian Derby with Alabama Rain.

The Canadian Derby is 1 1/4 miles and is worth $250,000 (Canadian).

Final Jeopardy, a two-time winner at Gulfstream Park, was on the Triple Crown trail earlier this year, running sixth in the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2). He also was fourth in the May 11 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) at Belmont. Final Jeopardy, who will be ridden by Rigo Sarmiento, has been made the 8-5 morning-line favorite.

Of the local runners, Ole Nielsen's Explode, winner of his past three starts including a nine-furlong allowance race at Century Mile July 27, is the best hope at 4-1 on the morning line.

A Kentucky-bred gelding by Trappe Shot —Light Blow, by Kingmambo, Explode has run well in two starts beyond sprinting this summer.

"Winning the Canadian Derby would be a boyhood dream," Nielsen told Horse Racing Alberta after the allowance score in the mud. "I'm an Edmonton boy. I was raised here. I went to the University of Alberta and then moved to Vancouver to go to the University of British Columbia.

"I remember picking up empty pop bottles so that I could have enough money to bet $2 to win, place, and show on a horse at Northlands. And when I was a little older I remember betting $100 to win on Chariot Chaser," he said of the 13-1 Derby winner in 1965.

Trainer Robertino Diodoro, who won the 2017 Derby with Chief Know It All and last year's edition with Sky Promise, returns with Miltontown, a son of Speightstown  claimed for $50,000 in late May at Churchill Downs from G M B Racing and trainer Dallas Stewart, and Charles Garvey's Senor Friday, a son of Curlin  who won the Harry Jaffrey Stakes at Assiniboia Downs last time out July 13.

Miltontown, bred by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and St. George Farm, was eighth in the July 5 Iowa Derby for several of the owners of Chief Know It All.

Interest is high in the Canadian Derby, even drawing an entrant from Godolphin. Eoin Harty trains Journeyman, a son of Animal Kingdom  that is riding a two-race win streak at Arlington International Racecourse.

Entries: Canadian Derby (G3)

Century Mile Racetrack and Casino, Sunday, August 18, 2019, Race 10

• Grade III
• 1 1/4m
• Dirt
• $250,000
• 3 yo
• 6:45 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Call It a Wrap (BC)	Wilmer Galviz	126	Tim Rycroft	30/1
2	2Parking Permit (CA)	Keihton Natera	126	James R. Brown	30/1
3	3Kaziranga (KY)	Marcelino Pedroza	126	Mark Simms, Jr.	10/1
4	4Ranger Up (KY)	Justin Stein	126	Craig MacPherson	20/1
5	5Miltontown (KY)	Rico W. Walcott	126	Robertino Diodoro	6/1
6	6Explode (KY)	Amadeo Perez	126	Mark Cloutier	4/1
7	7Journeyman (KY)	Dane Nelson	126	Eoin G. Harty	8/1
8	8Final Jeopardy (KY)	Rigo Sarmiento	126	Philip Hall	8/5
9	9Equivocal (KY)	Quincy Welch	126	Jerri R. Robertson	30/1
10	10Senor Friday (KY)	Orlando Mojica	126	Robertino Diodoro	20/1
11	11Flatout Winner (KY)	Prayven Badrie	126	Greg Tracy	15/1
12	12Sharp Dressed Beau (OR)	Andre Martin	126	Rick Hedge	15/1