Stablemates Mighty Heart, Belichick meet for third time in Ontario Derby

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Saturday’s Grade 3, $125,000 Ontario Derby will be the rubber match for the Josie Carroll-trained 3-year-olds Mighty Heart and Belichick.

The one-eyed Mighty Heart took the Queen’s Plate on Tapeta here in front-running style and the Prince of Wales Stakes on the dirt at Fort Erie. His bid for the Canadian Triple Crown fell short when he faded to seventh after getting cooked in a speed duel in the 1 1/2-mile Breeders’ Stakes on turf Oct. 24.

The late bloomer Belichick, who ran against a speed bias when second in the Plate, realized his potential by winning his maiden in the Breeders’ after bypassing the Prince of Wales.

“I’ve said all along that this is a good horse,” Carroll said. “From the time he came in the barn, he just got over the ground like a Ferrari. I wasn’t surprised to see him jump up. He’s a big, rangy horse who’s just growing into himself.”

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Carroll said Belichick’s victory was bittersweet, considering how close Mighty Heart came to an historic achievement.

“It’s very exciting to win with this horse, but how often do you get the opportunity to win a Triple Crown?” Carroll said. “Mighty Heart ran his little heart out. Unfortunately, he was hooked all the way and never got a chance to relax. I think he used most of his race up against one competitor.”

Rafael Hernandez inherits the mount on Mighty Heart from Daisuke Fukumoto, who rode him in the Triple Crown.

The 1 1/8-mile Ontario Derby attracted a quality field that also includes Malibu Mambo and Mnemba Island.

Malibu Mambo won an allowance route impressively, going gate to wire off a four-month layoff Oct. 11. The runner-up in last year’s Coronation Futurity, Malibu Mambo missed the Triple Crown after ending up fifth in a June 14 allowance.

“I was really pleased to see him come up with that effort,” trainer Kevin Attard said. “He’s a horse I’ve regarded highly from the beginning. It’s unfortunate that we were sidetracked earlier in the year.”

Mnemba Island, a stretch-runner trained by Julie Carey, has won his last three starts, each in allowance company, most recently going 1 1/4 miles.

There are 10 other races on Saturday’s excellent Kennedy Road Stakes card at Woodbine, including the Grade 2 Bessarabian and $150,000 Ontario Lassie Stakes.

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Bessarabian Stakes

Amalfi Coast will try to win the seven-furlong $175,000 Bessarabian for the second year in a row. The 4-year-old won for the first time this year in the 6 1/2-furlong Sweet Briar Too Stakes on Oct. 23, when she rallied inside to prevail by 4 1/2 lengths with a big 98 Beyer Speed Figure. She had throat surgery prior to a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Seaway in August, then faded after attending a rapid pace in the Canadian, a Grade 2 turf route Sept. 12.

“From the start of the year, things didn’t go her way,” Attard said. “I think we got a little ambitious in the Canadian. She was up on the pace that day and probably doesn’t want to go that far. We freshened her up and turned her back to 6 1/2 furlongs. It was nice to see that performance out of her. She had a great trip.”

Carroll entered Boardroom and Painting, who won her first stakes two back in the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion before a belated third in the Sweet Briar Too.

Boardroom is meeting older opposition off a victory in the Duchess Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. She salvaged third as the favorite in the Sept. 12 Ruling Angel Stakes after her rider had to deal with a broken line.

“The pin on the line bent, and it came loose as she left the gate,” Carroll said. “We don’t know if she rubbed it on something.”

◗ Merveilleux and Woodbine Oaks winner Curlin’s Voyage are the protagonists in the 1 1/16-mile Ontario Damsel for Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Merveilleux defeated reigning Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Curlin’s Voyage for the first time Oct. 25 while notching her first stakes win in the Wonder Where on turf.

“We’ve been high on her, and she didn’t have the greatest trips in some races,” Attard said. “It was nice to see her come up with a strong performance. She kicked clear.