Quarter Horses set for another Derby

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Friday's Manitoba Quarter Horse Derby is the first of 13 Quarter Horse races to be run at Assiniboia Downs this year. The 400-yard race for 3-year-olds bred in Manitoba carries a purse of $4,900.

All six of the horses entered raced in the Breeder's Stake Derby at Rossburn Parkland Downs last Saturday.

The winner of that race, Miss Good Catch, will be coupled with Spunky Cusitar on Friday, with Gary Melanson named on both parts of the entry.

Miss Good Catch, owned by James Cusitar and trained by John Cizik, has won three of her five lifetime starts.

* Gus Again, under jockey Anderson Ward, romped by six lengths in last Saturday's Manitoba Maturity for his fourth consecutive win. Trained by Harry Kube, Gus Again ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.60.

Gus Again returned $5.20. Dawn of Forever finished second to complete a $24.40 exactor.

* Corporate Shuffle ($3.50) took Sunday's Derby Trial to remain unbeaten in seven starts at Assiniboia Downs. Trained by Darla Singh and ridden by Rohan Singh, Corporate Shuffle has amassed $101,520 of his $109,600 lifetime earnings here.

* Ward won one race Tuesday to move into a tie with Singh for the top spot on the local rider standing, with 36 wins. Danny Vergara is two back of the leaders, with 34 victories.

Gary Danelson leads all local trainers with 22 victories.