Amis Gizmo sets track record in winning Ontario Derby

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Amis Gizmo ($2.80) justified his favoritism with an easy triumph in track-record time in the Grade 3 Ontario Derby on the Woodbine Mile undercard Saturday.

Amis Gizmo went straight to the front under Luis Contreras and maintained a substantial lead all the way through quick fractions on a wet Tapeta surface that was favoring speed. He coasted home on top by six lengths in 1:48.30, which was 0.03 seconds quicker than the previous synthetic-track record for 1 1/8 miles.

A son of Giant Gizmo, Amis Gizmo earned $108,000 of the $171,300 purse for owner Ivan Dalos and trainer Josie Carroll.

“It just fell out that way today,” said Carroll. “When Luis went to the front, I really wasn’t concerned because he knows this horse so well. I was more than confident that he knew what he was doing.”

Dragon Bay finished a clear second over English Illusion in the six-horse field.

The race was marred by the breakdown of the Chicago shipper Yo Carm, who was euthanized. His rider, Irad Ortiz Jr., was uninjured.