Three-way battle shapes up

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - A field of 11 has been entered for Monday's $100,000 Manitoba Lotteries Derby, the biggest race of the Assiniboia Downs meeting. Three other stakes are also carded on the eight-race program.

Wayzata Bay, Stormy Business, and Prime Time T.V. are the main contenders in the derby, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds.

Wayzata Bay had a two-race win streak stopped when finishing fourth, beaten 3 3/4 lengths, in the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows on July 1.

Before that Wayzata Bay won both the June 11 Prairie Mile, the prep for the Iowa Derby, and a first-level allowance race on May 14. Both are one-mile races at Prairie Meadows.

Cindy Noll, who rode Wayzata Bay to victory on May 14, replaces the injured Tim Doocy, who had been aboard Wayzata Bay for his last two starts.

Stormy Business rallied from well off the pace to win the Derby Trial Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths over Prime Time T.V. on July 10.

Stormy Business ran twice at Canterbury Park before that. He defeated Smoke Smoke Smoke, who returned to win the Beau Genius Stakes at Churchill Downs, in the six-furlong St. Paul Stakes, and then finished fifth and was placed fourth via disqualification in the Come Summer in his first attempt on turf.

Prime Time T.V. looked invincible winning his first two starts here, a first-level allowance race and the Golden Boy Stakes, scoring by 16 and 8 1/4 lengths, respectively, with Beyer Speed Figures of 101 and 96.

Since then Prime Time T.V. has been the beaten favorite twice, finishing fourth in the Alberta Derby at 8-5 and then second at less than 2-5 in the Derby Trial.

Prime Time T.V. was headstrong early in the Derby Trial and dueled through quick fractions of 23.20 seconds, 47, and 1:11.80. He should be the dominant speed on Monday.

Raggidy Rowe had a two-race win streak halted when he ran third, beaten seven lengths, in the Derby Trial. One of only two horses in the race with experience at 1 1/8 miles, Raggidy Rowe was a well-beaten sixth in the Oregon Derby at Portland Meadows on April 2 in his only attempt at the distance.

Allright finished 10th, beaten 23 lengths, in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in his only start at 1 1/8 miles. Last time out, in his first start for new trainer Robertino Diodoro, Allright finished fifth, beaten 6 1/4 lengths in the Ky Alta Handicap at Northlands Park on July 16.