Canadian Derby trail for Shogun

EDMONTON, Alberta - With a convincing wire-to-wire victory in the Alberta Derby already on his resume, Vancouver-based Lord Shogun sets out on the Canadian Derby trail when he heads a capacity field of 12 in the $40,000 Ky Alta at Northlands Park on Saturday.

Lord Shogun, who surprised at 6-1 in his first try at a route, has not raced since winning the June 15 Alberta Derby at 1 1/16 miles, the same distance as the Ky Alta. He drew the outside post, just as he did in the 11-horse Alberta Derby.

Until his success in Calgary, Lord Shogun had not run beyond 6 1/2 furlongs in five career starts. Trained by Robert VanOverschot, he is topweighted at 121 pounds and will have regular rider David Wilson aboard in the Ky Alta, in which he seeks his fourth straight win.

Lord Shogun's chief rivals appear to be Dark Fuse, who will be the second highweight at 119 pounds under Orlando Martinez, and Intact, who will carry 118 pounds and be ridden by Richard Hamel.

Dark Fuse is coming off a solid triumph here in the 6 1/2-furlong Western Canada after earlier winning the six-furlong President's in Calgary. But he faltered to finish seventh in the Alberta Derby, after being in striking distance entering the stretch, and did not fare well in the draw here with the No. 10 post.

Intact, who drew the rail, also has to prove he can handle a route after finishing a badly beaten 11th as the 2-1 favorite in the Alberta Derby. He had been a charging winner in the Hoofprint on My Heart at a flat mile three weeks earlier.

Others who could challenge Lord Shogun's early speed include Exclusive Banker and the lightly raced Cat in a Bag.

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