Amis Gizmo seeks first graded stakes win in Ontario Derby

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Amis Gizmo will look to earn his first graded stakes victory and bolster his case to be Canada’s champion 3-year-old male in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Ontario Derby for 3-year-olds over 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta at Woodbine.

Amis Gizmo will be looking to bounce back off a sixth-place finish in the third jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on turf. He made a bid for the lead on the far turn in that race before tiring in the final furlong under jockey Luis Contreras.

A cutback to nine furlongs should suit Amis Gizmo well since he won the Plate Trial Stakes at this distance in June with an 85 Beyer Speed Figure. He also recorded a dominant victory on dirt in the Prince of Wales Stakes over 1 3/16 miles at Fort Erie on July 26 after running second in the Queen’s Plate over 1 1/4 miles on Tapeta at Woodbine on July 3.

Amis Gizmo is competing for a Canadian divisional title with Queen’s Plate winner Sir Dudley Digges, who was nominated to this event but did not enter. Sir Dudley Digges was second in the Breeders’ Stakes, third in the Plate Trial, and sixth in the Prince of Wales.

Ontario Derby, Race 4

Key Contenders

Amis Gizmo, by Giant Gizmo
Last 3 Beyers: 74-88-86

◗ The Ontario Derby will be just the second start in open company for Amis Gizmo. He ran fifth in the open Wando Stakes in his first start of the year in April but is a much-improved horse since that race.

Dragon Bay, by Parading
Last 3 Beyers: 85-85-84

◗ He’s run well but has been disqualified in his last two starts while pairing up 85 Beyers.

◗ In his two stakes starts on Tapeta, he’s been beaten a neck both times, including in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes in May.

Berliner, by Bernardini
Last 3 Beyers: 91-82-83

◗ He’s won three straight starts on grass, including when he earned a 91 Beyer in a second-level allowance going a mile Aug. 20.

◗ He will make his first start on Tapeta after racing exclusively on turf, but he did record a quick five-furlong work in 59.80 seconds on Tapeta on Sept. 8.

Thatlookonyerface, by Summer Bird
Last 3 Beyers: 79-82-71

◗ He won the Marine Stakes on Tapeta in May but hasn’t hit the board since. However, he has recorded good speed figures against older allowance competition and will now face 3-year-olds.

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