Overflow field entered in Canadian Derby

Fourteen horses were entered Tuesday for the Grade 3, $150,000 Canadian Derby, which will be held Saturday at Northlands Park. Only 12 will get to run, with Perfect Gent and Warden of the West on the outside looking in.

Last year, the 1 3/8-mile race was dominated by the 3-year-old filly Academic, who also won the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby. There don’t appear to be any standouts in this well-matched field, though.

Leading the local contingent is Ready Intaglio, who will break from post No. 8. In his first start for trainer Amber Meyaard, Ready Intaglio rallied to edge Hold the Giant in the one-mile, $50,000 Ky Alta on June 18. He proved it was no fluke when he came from well back to win the 1 1/16-mile Count Lathum on July 16. In both races, he was ridden by Shamaree Muir, who retains the mount.

Hastings-based Lord Vancouver has won two of his last three starts, and the horse who beat him in the $50,000 Chris Loseth on July 1, Opportunistic, repeated in the $75,000 Emerald Derby on July 31. Trained and owned by Phil Hall, Lord Vancouver is coming off a win in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Stellar’s Jay on Aug. 1. Hall also bred the son of Teide with Blair Law.

“He’s feeling good right now, so I am going to take a shot with him,” said Hall. “His sire finished second going a mile and three-eighths in the Premier’s, so I think he’ll get the distance. He just keeps improving, and I am happy with the [No. 9 post]. My only concern is how well he’ll handle shipping.”

Manitoba Derby winner Inside Straight drew the outside post, and his stablemate Solve, fourth in the same race, will break from post No. 11. They are both trained by Robertino Diodoro, who won the Canadian Derby in 2013 with Broadway Empire and in 2014 with Edison.

Other contenders in the race include Access This, Ruck, and Sorryaboutnothing.