EDMONTON, Alberta - Trainer Robertino Diodoro, who recently won his 2,000th race at Saratoga, was very emotional after seeing his Sky Promise win the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park. The 1 3/8-mile derby was the final thoroughbred race at Northlands, which opened for racing in 1900. “It is very special to win the last race here,” he said. “I won my first race as a trainer here, my mom worked in the mutuels, and my grandfather was the custodian of the jocks room at one time, and he trained here. There is a lot of history. You are going to see a lot of sad faces leaving this track today. To have won my first race here and the last one, well, it is pretty awesome.” Under a confident ride by Rico Walcott, Sky Promise had one horse beat in the nine-horse field while his stablemate, Hyndford, walked through a half-mile in 51.13 seconds. He saved ground going around the first three turns before Walcott eased him outside coming out of third turn. He started to pick up horses just past the three-eighth pole, and it was pretty clear he was going to win when he was in full flight at the quarter-pole. He took over the lead from Shimshine on the final turn, opened up a clear lead turning for home and never looked threatened by Day Raider, who rallied late. Shimshine, who made a strong move to take over the lead at approaching the quarter-pole, held on to finish third. The winning margin was a length with Day Raider finishing 5 1/2 lengths clear of Shimshine. Sky Promise paid $4.10 and posted a final time of 2:20.11. “I had a lot of horse the whole way,” Walcott said. “I wasn’t worried about the slow pace, and when I saw Shimshine make his move I went after him. I had him inside early and when I tipped him out he fired.” The Kentucky-bred son of Sky Mesa is owned by Rick and Clayton Wiest, R 6 Stable, and Norman Tremblay. There were two supporting stakes on the 12-race card. City of Edmonton Distaff Escape Handicap Escape Clause set a moderate pace under pressure from Tara's Way before drawing off to win the $75,000 City of Edmonton Distaff Escape Handicap by 4 1/2 lengths over Victress. She paid $6.10 for her impressive victory in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares. Ansturm rallied late to finish third. The final time was 1:44.32. Escape Clause was ridden by Keishan Balgobin. “She was nice and relaxed early, and when she hit the quarter-pole she really kicked it into gear,” Balgobin said. The 4-year-old Manitoba-bred daughter of Going Commando races for True North Stable and is trained by Don Schnell. Timely Ruckus Taking advantage of a hotly contested pace, Mister Jangles came from well back to win the $50,000 Timely Ruckus by a half-length over Private Money Dancer. Sir Bronx finished third in the6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up. Mister Jangles paid $14.60 and posted a final time of 1:17.46. Rigo Sarmiento rode the 5-year-old Alberta-bred son of Ice Box for leading trainer Tim Rycroft and owner Mitch Klimove. It may be the end to racing at Northlands, but next year there will be racing in the Edmonton area at Century Mile. The new facility is scheduled to open in late April.