Assiniboia: Prime Time TV romps

Prime Time T.V. came with an overpowering rush around the final turn and ran away to a 10 3/4-length win in the $100,000 Manitoba Lotteries Derby at Assiniboia Downs.

Wayzata Bay, the 9-5 favorite, rallied for second with Stormy Business, the 5-2 third choice, third, and longshot Brinello fourth.

Prime Time T.V. came into the Manitoba Derby after setting the pace and finishing second to Stormy Business as the odds-on favorite in the Derby Trial. He reversed his running style on Monday, trailing in the 11-horse field by a lengthy margin before unleashing his eye-catching rally.

"He was goofing off down the backstretch," said Travis Hightower, who rode Prime Time T.V. "Once I got him to the outside, he started doing what he had to do."

Owned by Robert Mitchell and trained by Bert Blake, Prime Time T.V. ($8.10) earned $60,000 to bring his career bankroll to $125,749.

Prime Time T.V. was clocked in 1:52.20 for 1 1/8 miles.

In the three $40,000 stakes on the holiday undercard:

* Northlands invader Kat Kool ($8.90) finished strongly to capture the one-mile Wheat City Handicap by a neck.

* Aly's Flyer ($18.40), ridden by Felipe Valdez, defeated five other 3-year-old fillies in the one-mile Jack Hardy.

* Hey Hey Renee ($13.50), one of two fillies in the field of five, was a 2 1/2-length winner of the Winnipeg Futurity.