Consecrate faces males for first time in wide-open Canadian Derby

EDMONTON, Alberta – Consecrate will try to become the first filly to win the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby since Raylene edged Taiaslew in 2003. The richest race in Western Canada attracted a well-matched field of 11 3-year-olds who will be negotiating four turns while going a grueling 1 3/8 miles at Northlands Park on Saturday.

The Derby goes as race 12 on a 13-race card that begins at noon Mountain. Post time for the Derby is 5:40 p.m.

This year’s Derby doesn’t have the quality of the 2013 field, which included Grade 3 winners Broadway Empire and Title Contender, plus the graded stakes-placed Reporting Star, who is running in the Grade 2 Sky Classic at Woodbine on Saturday. It is more appealing from a betting perspective, however, with no clear favorite, and strong cases could be made for more than half the field.

Trained by Greg Tracy, Consecrate is coming off a handy 11 1/4-length win in the $49,980 Northlands Oaks on July 18. She would have been an overwhelming favorite to win the $50,000 Sonoma for 3-year-old fillies that goes as race 8. Tracy is hoping he made the right choice by having her go up against males for the first time.

“It was a tough call, but the owners really wanted to run in the Derby, so here we are,” said Tracy. “Looking at the field, she seems to have as good a shot as any of them.”

“It’s kind of like splitting kings in blackjack,” said one of her owners, Craig Robertson. “We’re giving away almost a sure thing, but hopefully we’ll pick up something more substantial.”

Consecrate rallied to win the Northlands Oaks, and there should be an honest pace for her to work with if the race unfolds as expected. She will break from the rail with Scott Williams riding.

KEY CONTENDERS

The Spinmeister (Last 3 Beyers: 75-33-60)

◗ Installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite, The Spinmeister ran a huge race to win the 1 1/16-mile, $48,740 Count Lathum by 6 1/2 lengths July 19. Trainer Rob Chabot took the blinkers off The Spinmeister for the Lathum following a disappointing effort as the favorite in the $55,940 Ky Alta in his previous start.

Edison (Last 3 Beyers: 73-71-74)

◗ Running on dirt for the first time for trainer Robertino Diodoro, Edison won the Harry Jeffrey Stakes at Assiniboia Downs with Rico Walcott aboard July 16.

◗ According to DRF’s Formulator, over the past five years, Walcott has won with nearly half of his mounts riding for Diodoro in non-graded stakes races.

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◗ Diodoro thinks Edison will thrive going the marathon distance.

“He’s still learning, and everyone that gets on him says the farther he goes, the stronger he gets,” said Diodoro.

◗ Diodoro also entered Shootitinthebush, who has been blowing them away in the bushes and will be used as a rabbit.

“At all costs, he’s going to the lead,” said Diodoro.

Consecrate (Last 3 Beyers: 72-56-62)

◗ She improved dramatically in her second start for Tracy, gets five pounds from the field, and the flow of the race should work in her favor.

Off the Top (Last 3 Beyers: 79-76-68)

◗ Hastings invader has the best Beyer Speed Figures in the field, and as evidenced by his race-high Tomlinson Rating for the distance, he is certainly bred to go this far. The main concern is how well he will handle coming back just 12 days after finishing second behind Koffee Grinder in the B.C. Cup Stellar’s Jay on Aug. 4.

Arguments also could be made for Remembertobreathe, Private Money Game, and Go Max.