Blue Dancer at 8-5 for Canadian Derby

EDMONTON, Alberta – Blue Dancer will break from post No. 2 with leading rider Rico Walcott aboard in the $200,000, Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park on Saturday. Post positions were chosen by the connections of the 12 horses entered in the 1 3/8-mile race for 3-year-olds at a brunch held at Northlands on Wednesday.

Blue Dancer, the 8-5 morning-line favorite, has dominated the local 3-year-old division, and his only loss in eight starts came in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita last November.

Blue Dancer was the fifth out of the box, and one of the owners, Craig Robertson, made the choice. Trainer Greg Tracy was hoping for an inside post, where Walcott will be able to put him into the race without having to work too hard.

“He’s fast coming out of there, and he can just settle into the race instead of having to try and clear horses from an outside post,” said Tracy.

First to choose was trainer Twylla Bensmiller, who picked post No. 3 for Purple Heaven. He is coming off a runner-up finish behind Blue Dancer in the Count Lathum Handicap on July 18.

Woodbine Oaks winner Academic drew the rail. The second choice at 7-2 on the morning line, she will be making her first start for trainer Tim Rycroft and will be running on dirt for the first time.

The other filly in the race is Quality Lane, who won the Northlands Park Oaks in her last start. She will leave from post No. 7.

Other notables include Preakness participant Bodhisattva, who will break from post No. 8. He won the $100,000 Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico prior to finishing seventh in the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Manitoba Derby runner-up Witt Six drew post No. 5. He is the third choice on the morning line at 6-1.