Northlands Park: Baker has two for Canadian Derby

Trainer Reade Baker confirmed Bear’s Taurus and Speyside for the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park this Saturday.

Bear’s Taurus is coming off a fifth-place finish in a one-mile first-level allowance race on the grass at Woodbine on Aug. 1. Speyside finished second in a first-level race for Ontario-breds going 1 1/4 miles on the turf July 7.

Fernando Perez, second in the jockey standings at Hastings, has secured the mount on Speyside. Quincy Welch, one of the top jockeys in Alberta before he moved to Woodbine last year, is reportedly riding Bear’s Taurus.

“They are both all right, but I kind of prefer Bear’s Taurus over Speyside,” said Baker.

Devil in Disguise, another Glen Todd-owned horse, is the likely favorite for the 1 3/8-mile derby. He was an easy winner of the Count Lathum in his first start at Northlands for trainer Dennis Terry on Aug. 4.

Terry was pleased with Devil in Disguise’s five-furlong move in 1:01.80 at Northlands last Saturday.

“He did it very easily,” said Terry.