Three-year-old stalwarts test older in conditioned allowance

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Ontario Derby protagonists Ironstone and The Minkster will take on older rivals in Sunday’s intriguing main event at Woodbine, a 1 1/4-mile conditioned allowance with an $80,000 claiming option.

The Minkster was rank on the lead through moderate fractions in the 1 1/8-mile Ontario Derby while being tracked by the favored Ironstone and two others.

Ironstone was angled off the inside entering the stretch by Kazushi Kimura and then collared The Minkster inside the eighth pole before drawing clear for a 2 3/4-length tally.

Trained by Willie Armata, Ironstone competed in the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown. The fast worker finished a decent fourth in the 1 1/4-mile Queen’s Plate and was front-running second as the favorite in the 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales Stakes in the mud at Fort Erie.

“We had been teaching him to be more comfortable in the morning time, but he was still a little bit aggressive,” Kimura said after the derby. “When it sets up like that, he’s going to be finishing.”

The Minkster was unbeaten in two 2-year-old outings, including the Coronation Futurity. He narrowly won his season debut in the seven-furlong Queenston Stakes and went to sidelines after finishing a distant ninth as the pacesetter in the $1 million Plate.

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“After the Queen’s Plate, we did a throat surgery on him,” trainer Danny Vella said. “He had a breathing issue that was kind of hidden. When we scoped him, you didn’t see it. It was a minor thing that was straightened out. He had another minor setback before the Breeders’ Stakes, so that’s why we ended up [in the Ontario Derby].”

Rafael Hernandez takes over on The Minkster, who was previously ridden by David Moran. Moran retains the mount on turf specialist Primo Touch, who led until late stretch last time out when third going 1 1/16 miles over good ground.

Dun Drum and Elusive Knight are two closers who both have a 1 1/4-mile victory to their credit this year.

Dun Drum cleared the second allowance condition three starts back over 1 1/4 miles on the Tapeta. The 89 Beyer Speed Figure he earned then was just off the 90 Ironstone got in the Ontario Derby.

Dun Drum cut back to 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf most recently in the Overskate Stakes for Ontario-sired stock. Sent off at 7-1, he came from fourth to prevail by a nose over a sharp Mason’s Gamble.

Emma-Jayne Wilson will ride Dun Drum again for trainer Ian Black, who sent the 6-year-old out to work five-eighths in 1:00.20 on Nov. 5.

Elusive Knight benefited from an inside bias on Oct. 14 when taking a 1 1/4-mile conditioned allowance with a $50,000 claiming option on the Tapeta. He also breezed five-eighths on Nov. 5, going in a quick 59.60.

Completing the sixth-race field are Malibu Mambo, English Conqueror, and Prideofdistinction.

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