Prayforpeace tops Manitoba Derby; mandatory payout in Pick 5 Jackpot

Derby Trial winner Prayforpeace has been tabbed as the 7-5 favorite for the 74th running of the $100,000 Manitoba Derby, a 1 1/8-mile event for 3-year-olds on Monday night at Assiniboia Downs.

Prayforpeace was a high-end claim at the Churchill Downs spring meet. He was taken from a victory over $50,000 3-year-olds on May 29, when he earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure going six furlongs.

Three weeks later, Prayforpeace was claimed for a whopping $80,000 by owner Henry Witt Jr. while ending up sixth in a seven-furlong allowance/optional claimer. He subsequently finished third there at the same level before being turned over to trainer Jerry Gourneau.

Prayforpeace was the 5-2 second choice when moving out to a mile around two turns in the Derby Trial on July 11. After tracking the leaders along the inside, he took control on the far turn and then drew away to score by 6 1/2 lengths with an 86 Beyer.

Antonio Whitehall retains the mount on Prayforpeace, a son of Liam’s Map. Liam’s Map was a Grade 1 winner over nine furlongs.

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Derby Trial runner-up Great Escape is the 2-1 second choice in the eight-horse field. His best of three races in the United States this year was a front-running second in a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Oaklawn in February, for which he got an 82 Beyer.

Great Escape raced in second most of the way in the Derby Trial and finished 6 1/2 lengths clear of the third horse. Rico Walcott will ride him again for trainer Robertino Diodoro. They combined to take the 2018 Manitoba Derby with the brilliant Sky Promise, who was the second of three Manitoba Derby winners for Diodoro.

Diodoro also is sending out Red Knobs (5-1) and Clancy’s Pistol (6-1).

Red Knobs was claimed from a second for $50,000 in his last race at Churchill, a 1 1/16-mile route for nonwinners of two. Diodoro has a 21 percent strike rate off a claim.

After a troubled break, Clancy’s Pistol checked in a distant third in the Derby Trial. He had a productive stint at Oaklawn that included a victory in a $50,000 starter allowance and a fourth in the Oaklawn Stakes.

Strong Belief won two in a row here in July for trainer Shelley Brown. After graduating in a six-furlong maiden special, the deep closer captured a one-mile allowance two weeks later on July 20.

Rounding out the field are Gold Special, Dimmi Quando, and Get Witt Gone.

◗ A field of six was drawn for the $50,000 Manitoba Mile Stakes. Real Grace and Soy Tapatio are co-highweighted at 124 pounds in the race for 3-year-olds and up.

◗ Spun Line and Daniella Bella will clash in the $50,000 Escape Clause Stakes, a one-mile test for fillies and mares.

◗ There will be a mandatory payout in the Pick 5 Jackpot, which has a carryover of $515,683.

◗ Post time for the eight-race card is 7:35 p.m. Central. The Manitoba Derby goes as the sixth race at 10:05 p.m.