Ready Intaglio and Muir triumph in Canadian Derby
Ready Intaglio, benefiting from a great ride by Shamaree Muir, won the Grade 3, $150,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park on Saturday. He was sent off as the favorite in the 12-horse field and paid $9.30 for his three-quarter-length win over Solve in the 1 3/8-miles race.
Ready Intaglio broke alertly from post 8, but Muir got him to settle off what turned into a lively pace. While Hold the Giant and Northernlocomotive were dueling through a half-mile in :47.82 seconds, Muir had Ready Intaglio well back and saving ground along the rail. He moved to the two path while going around the third of four turns and, approaching the three-eighths pole, he started to make a serious move. He was in full flight along the rail on the stretch turn and when Inside Straight, who had taken over the lead at the quarter pole, drifted out at the top of the stretch, he squeezed through a narrow opening. He took over the lead mid-stretch and held off Solve, who rallied late from the outside of Inside Straight. The Accuser made a threatening move while going wide on the stretch turn, but hung and finished third.
The stewards posted the inquiry sign immediately following the race, and Rico Walcott, who finished fourth aboard Inside Straight, also lodged a claim of foul against the first two finishers. Inside Straight had to steady when Ready Intaglio and Solve blew by him mid-stretch. He appeared to be a beaten horse when the incident occurred, however, and the stewards let the result stand.
The final time was 2:19.16.
Ready Intaglio is trained by Amber Meyaard, who praised the ride by Muir.
“We are a small stable so it is hard to get a good rider,” Meyaard said. “Shamaree fits in well with our program and he gave the horse a great ride today.”
Meyaard works closely with her husband, Jim Meyaard. He was listed as the trainer when they won the Derby with No Hesitation in 2010.
It was the third straight stakes win for Ready Intaglio, who earned $90,000 for his owner Robbin Martens.