Quarry holds off Big Curl to take Canadian Derby
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Quarry left little room for doubt in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby on Saturday at Century Mile, making a sweeping move at the top of the stretch and holding on to win by a half-length.
In the $125,000 Manitoba Derby earlier this month, the 3-year-old gelding rallied at 27-1 and just missed by a nose. In a field full of familiar rivals on Saturday, he overcame a troubled start and took care of business at 1 1/4 miles for new trainer Jerry Gourneau, earning his first stakes victory.
Big Curl, who also lost by a nose in the $50,000 Count Lathum last time out, made another strong close move but had to settle for second in the field of 12 3-year-olds. Quarry paid $21.40 to win, and the $1 exacta with Big Curl paid $93.55.
Caught between horses entering the first turn, jockey Damario Bynoe had to take Quarry out of a stalking position, shuffling back from third to seventh. The 41-1 longshot Debrusk got away with an opening quarter-mile in 24.43 seconds, but he tried to extend on the backstretch and quickened as a result, completing the half-mile in 47.41.
Most runners near the top flight in the early stages were longshots and did not last long, including Debrusk, who held a diminishing advantage through a mile in 1:38.71 before fading. Quarry was one of many closers who launched their bid on the far turn, along with Gethsemane and Big Curl. Direct Strike and Tisum were also steadily advancing from farther back.
But with a perfectly timed ride from Bynoe, Quarry made the most compelling move, getting into striking position on the far turn and using much of his energy to kick clear by two lengths at the top of the stretch. Most of the closers did not have the momentum to challenge him.
Big Curl, game again for trainer Tim Rycroft, came calling in the late stages, but the gelding came up short. Quarry completed the 1 1/4-mile distance in 2:06.94.
Direct Strike, the 9-2 second choice trained by Craig Smith, rallied from 10th to finish third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Big Curl. He was three-quarters of a length clear of Tisum, the Count Lathum winner who could not make up the late ground this time.
Western Warrior, the winner of the Manitoba Derby last time out, was caught wide all the way around the track and never contended, fading to last.
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