Real Grace digs in to score emotional upset in Canadian Derby

Real Grace pulled off a huge upset in the Grade 3, $100,000 Canadian Derby at Century Mile on Sunday evening. With Mauricio Malvaez riding, Real Grace broke sharply and led at every call in the 1 1/4-mile race for 3-year-olds. He won by a neck in a final time of 2:03.77 and paid $38.80.

Real Grace was a head in front of At Attention when he posted a six-furlong time of 1:11.21. After repelling At Attention, he opened up a clear lead on the stretch turn, but then appeared to in trouble when Synergy made a strong move to collar him at the top of the stretch. However, Synergy hung, and under strong urging from Malvaez Real Grace was able to hold off the late bid of Something Natural on his outside and Rail Hugger, who was making his run on Real Grace’s inside.

Something Natural bested Rail Hugger for second by three-quarters of a length.

The Canadian Derby was Real Grace’s second stakes win for the Kentucky-bred son of Mineshaft whose only previous victory came in the $25,000 Derby Trial at Assiniboia Downs.

Real Grace is trained by Shelly Brown. He races for Brown, Jean McEwan, Bette and Rhone Holtman and B. Bernell.

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It was an emotional win with a lot of tears being shed. Brown, one of the top trainers at Assiniboia Downs for the past decade, was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and watched the race from a Winnipeg hospital. Rod Cone has been overseeing Real Grace’s training at Century.

Trainer Barbara Heads may have been disappointed with the fourth-place finish by Synergy, the favorite in the Derby, but she still had a great evening with Sangria winning the $75,000 Century Casino Oaks and Sunburst taking the $75,000 Northlands Distaff Handicap.

Ridden by Rico Walcott, Sangria paid $4.70 for her 1 1/4-length victory over Flat as a Pancake in the mile and an eighth Oaks. The final time was 1:51.53.

Walcott rode Sunburst to her two-length decision over Saveitforarainyday in the one-mile Distaff. Sent off as the heavy favorite, she paid $3.90 and posted a final time of 1:37.19.

Sangria and Sunburst are daughters of Sungold. They were bred in British Columbia by their owners, Russell and Lois Bennett.

With Enrique Gonzalez riding, Trooper John came from well back to upset the $75,000 Century Mile Handicap. He paid $35.60 for his half-length victory over Go Away, who was the lukewarm favorite in the 10-horse field. The final time was 1:36.54.

A Pennsylvania-bred son of Colonel John, Trooper John races for Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. He is trained by Tim Rycroft.