Explode promoted to victory in Canadian Derby

Following a stewards' inquiry and objection by jockey Amadeo Perez, Explode was elevated to first over Journeyman in the Grade 3, $250,000 Canadian Derby at Century Mile on Sunday. He paid $9.60.

Explode and Journeyman both got bumped around at the start of the 1 1/4-mile race. Explode soon moved into second where he looked comfortable stalking Sharp Dressed Beau through six furlongs in 1:11.21. Perez did not panic when Journeyman made an early move outside of Explode to take over the lead at the three-eighths pole. With Explode moving to Journeyman’s outside, the pair hooked up at the quarter pole and engaged in a thrilling stretch duel, with Journeyman finishing a neck in front. However, there was a lot of bumping, with Journeyman drifting out from the eighth pole to the wire.

After reviewing the video of the stretch run, the stewards reversed the order of finish.

“I tried to wait as long as I could before asking him to move,” said Perez. “I felt like I had a lot of horse when Journeyman went by me. He finished strong and I think he would have finished on top if he wasn’t getting bumped around in the stretch.”

Dane Nelson, the rider of the Godolphin-owned, Eoin Harty-traineed Journeyman, felt Perez initiated the contact and that the bumping was equal between the two.

"It was a tough loss but I can't really fault the stewards' decision," said Harty. "We'll just suck it up and move on."

Explode is owned by Ole Nielsen and trained by Mark Cloutier.

It was the fourth stakes win for the Kentucky-bred son of Trappe Shot. The $129,000 winner’s share of the purse boosted his career earnings to $277,900.

Heavily favored Final Jeopardy was expected to be among the early leaders but leaving the gate he got sandwiched between Explode and Equivocal. He had one of 12 horses beat at the first call, did make a strong late move to finish third, but never really threatened the top pair. Call It a Wrap was fourth, and he was followed home, in order, by Kaziranga, Flatout Winner, Sharp Dressed Beau, Ranger Up, Senor Friday, Parking Permit, Equivocal, and Miltontown. The final time was 2:01.52.