Blue Dancer seeks fourth straight stakes win in Canadian Derby

EDMONTON, Alberta – Blue Dancer will try to keep his perfect record in Canada intact when he takes on 11 competitors Saturday in the 86th running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park. The 1 3/8-mile Derby headlines a 13-race card that begins at noon Mountain time.

The race is contested at scale weights, with colts and geldings carrying 122 pounds and the two fillies, Academic and Quality Lane, packing 117. All of the contenders will be going around four turns for the first time.

Strategy will play a key role in the outcome, especially for Blue Dancer, the morning-line favorite, and Academic, the 7-2 second choice. They both appear to want the lead, and it will be interesting to see how the race unfolds with Academic leaving from the rail and Blue Dancer breaking directly to her right.

Blue Dancer appears to be peaking at the right time for trainer Greg Tracy. Since suffering his only loss last November in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Blue Dancer hasn’t seen the tail of a horse in winning three straight stakes at Northlands. In his latest start, the $50,000 Count Lathum, he received a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 87 for his 8 1/4-length romp in the 1 1/16-mile race. Rico Walcott was aboard for all three wins.

Tracy doesn’t think he has to be on the lead to win.

“He usually outbreaks the field, so he could be in front early,” said Tracy. “But if someone is crazy enough to want to get into a duel going this far, Rico can ease him back.”

Academic, who scored a huge upset when she won the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks for trainer Reade Baker, will be running on dirt for the first time. Following her front-running win in the Oaks, she was eased in the $1 million Queen’s Plate, then partially sold to Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. Her new trainer, Tim Rycroft, likes the way she has adapted to her new surroundings.

“She has a few quirks, earmuffs, etc., but she has settled in nicely here,” said Rycroft. “I worked her behind horses, and she seemed comfortable with it.”

Trained by Jose Corrales, Bodhisattva gets extreme class relief after facing American Pharoah in the Preakness and going unplaced in the Grade 3 Pegasus at Monmouth. Prior to the Preakness, he won the $100,000 Federico Tesio at Pimlico.

“I would throw his last two races out,” said Corrales. “He just didn’t run in the Pegasus, but he’s worked great since, and he seems to handle the track here well.”

Key contenders

Blue Dancer (Last 3 Beyers: 87-71-70)

* Undefeated in Canada, he appears to be peaking at the right time and has the best Tomlinson figure for the distance (378).

Bodhisattva (Last 3 Beyers: 51-29-91)

* The 91 Beyer Speed Figure he received for his win in the Federico Tesio is the best in the field, and he could get a nice trip from a stalking position with Luis Garcia riding.

Witt Six (Last 3 Beyers: 81-81-73)

* Trained by Jerry Gourneau, he used his good speed to win three straight stakes at Assiniboia Downs before losing by a neck in the $75,000 Manitoba Derby.

Afleet in Time (Last 3 Beyers: 64-66-73)

* He should appreciate the shape of the race, and trainer Robertino Diodoro is going for his third straight win in the Derby.

Purple Heaven (Last 3 Beyers: 73-65-58)

* Trained by Twylla Bensmiller, he was disqualified in the Edmonton Juvenile, but he is the only horse to finish in front of Blue Dancer in Canada. Second in the Count Lathum, he could be dangerous from a stalking position.