New purchase Final Jeopardy tops dozen expected for Canadian Derby

Final Jeopardy heads the list of 12 horses likely to start in the Grade 3, $250,000 Canadian Derby on Sunday at Century Mile. Traditionally contested around four turns at 1 3/8 miles at the now-closed Northlands Park, this year’s edition will be at 1 1/4 miles with just two turns.

Final Jeopardy figures to be a short price. He is coming off a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Dwyer on July 6 at Belmont for trainer Jason Servis. After being purchased for an undisclosed sum by Peter and James Redekop, he will be making his first start for Phil Hall, the leading trainer at Hastings.

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Hall flew to Saratoga to watch the Kentucky-bred son of Street Sense breeze a half-mile in 51.20 seconds on Aug. 9.

“He looked great,” Hall said Monday morning. “He didn’t work fast, but he did it easily.”

Explode, the top 3-year-old at Hastings, is expected to arrive at Century on Friday morning. The Kentucky-bred son of Trappe Shot breezed six furlongs in 1:16.60 on Saturday in Vancouver. He dominated the $50,000 Chris Loseth on June 30 at Hastings before tuning up for the Canadian Derby with a win going 1 1/8 miles in an allowance race July 27 at Century.

“All systems go,” said his trainer, Mark Cloutier. “He’s doing really well, and the farther they go the better.”

Trainer Robertino Diodoro will be represented by Senor Friday and Miltontown. Senor Friday won the $30,000 Harry Jeffrey on July 13 at Assiniboia Downs. Miltontown finished eighth in the $250,000 Iowa Derby on July 5 in his first start for Diodoro.

The Eoin Harty trainee Journeyman is coming off a win in a first-level allowance race on turf at Arlington Park. The son of Animal Kingdom was bred and is owned by Godolphin.