Last year, Uncharacteristic, who was claimed by trainer Robert VanOverschot for $8,000, parlayed a win in the $100,000 Manitoba Derby into a victory in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby. Trainer Robertino Diodoro is hoping to duplicate the feat with Red Knobs, a $50,000 claim, who figures to be favored in the most prestigious race at Century Mile Saturday. The 1 1/4-mile Derby drew on overflow field of 13 3-year-olds with Countrified mired on the also-eligible list. All starters will carry 126 pounds. The $200,000 Derby, the richest race in Western Canada, goes as race 10 and headlines an 11-race card that includes the $100,000 Northlands Distaff Handicap, $100,000 Century Mile Handicap, and concludes with the $100,000 Century Casino Oaks. Post time for the Derby is 8:50 p.m. Mountain. Due to the overwhelming presence of Infinite Patience, the Distaff was not included in the pick four, which has a guaranteed pool of $50,000. Instead, the sequence begins in race 8 with a wide-open $6,000 conditioned claimer that drew 12 horses. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match and FREE Formulator PPs! Join DRF Bets. Diodoro was acting on behalf of Robert G. and Robert K. Nokes when he claimed Red Knobs out of a runner-up finish in a $50,000 claimer for nonwinners of two at Churchill Downs July 3. The father-and-son team received a quick return on their investment when the Kentucky-bred colt by Union Rags sat just off his stablemate Great Escape before taking control in the deep stretch to win the 1 1/8-mile Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs Aug. 1. Red Knobs should get a similar trip if he breaks alertly from post 2 with Jorge Carreno retaining the mount. “He is doing very well, but it is a 12-horse field so he will need a trip,” said Diodoro. “I have a lot of confidence in Jorge to work one out. I think he has actually won more races for me than anyone else.” Carreno has won with 367 of his 1,424 mounts from Diodoro, which equates to a 26 percent strike rate. With Rico Walcott riding, Great Escape took them a long way in the Manitoba Derby before settling for second. According to Diodoro, the Kentucky-bred son of Midnight Storm will not be part of what should be a fast and contested pace after he breaks from post 3 with Walcott up. “He won’t be on the lead this time,” said Diodoro, who is seeking his fourth win in the Derby. “His best race was when he came from a stalking position to break his maiden.” Diodoro was referring to Great Escape’s victory going seven furlongs in a key maiden special weight at Churchill Downs in his second start last year. One of the three horses that came back to win their next race was Epicenter, who went on to finish second in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before winning the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga July 30. An honest pace could help Gunfighter, who is coming off defeats as the heavy favorite in his last three races at Hastings for trainer John Snow. In his most recent start in the $50,000 Sir Winston Churchill Aug. 1, it looked like Gunfighter was going to blow past Soaringforthesun midstretch. However, Soaringforthesun had plenty left after attending the moderate pace. The Kentucky-bred son of Ghostzapper was impressive working a half-mile in 47.20 seconds with Snow’s wife, Tammy Snow, aboard Aug. 13. Under a stranglehold by Snow, Gunfighter galloped out in 59.40. “I was only coming to Edmonton if he told me he was up for it,” said Snow. “His work told me everything I needed to know, especially when Tammy had a hard time pulling him up. He could not be doing any better and hopefully he will finally have some speed to run at.” Soaringforthesun and Real Riot are part of a strong contingent of horses shipping from Vancouver. Regal Riot won the $50,000 Chris Loseth and $50,000 Ross McLeod prior to finishing third in the Churchill. Infinite Patience streaking The Barbara Heads-trained Infinite Patience will be a short price to repeat in the one-mile Distaff, which drew six fillies and mares. The 5-year-old British Columbia-bred daughter of Sungold will carry high weight of 126 pounds as she goes for her eighth straight victory. Her usual rider Antonio Reyes will be up when she breaks from post 2. :: DRF Bets members get FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic. Join now! It is also hard to go past the Diodoro-trained Soy Tapatio in the Century Mile Handicap. The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Not this Time is coming off a 6 1/2-length romp in his first start for Diodoro in the Manitoba Mile Aug. 1 and the 91 Beyer he received stands out. He will tote high weight of 126 pounds. Walcott rides. Burrow Down and U Did It head the 1 1/8-mile Oaks, which drew nine horses. Burrow Down will be favored off her eight-length romp in the Manitoba Oaks for trainer Murray Duncan. She has new connections as Walcott picks up the mount from Stanley Chadee Jr. with Jerri Robertson taking over as trainer. U Did It, trained by Edgar Mendoza, got off to a terrible start when she finished third as the heavy favorite in the $50,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club in her last start at Hastings Aug. 1. Reyes retains the mount and will likely have her involved early if she breaks with the field.