Track: Century Mile Racetrack & Casino (Edmonton, AB)
Race: Race 9 – Canadian Derby (Grade III)
Distance: 1¼ miles (10 furlongs)
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $200,000
Eligibility: 3-Year-Olds
Post Time: 9:15 PM MDT
The 96th running of the Canadian Derby (G3) brings together a deep field of eleven 3-year-olds, including stakes winners, regional standouts, and pedigree-rich contenders. With a classic distance of 1¼ miles on dirt, this race is the crown jewel of Western Canada’s racing calendar and a pivotal leg in the Western Canadian Derby Series.
Horse-by-Horse Breakdown: Jockeys, Trainers & Pedigree Insights
| No. | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Pedigree | Morning Line Odds |
| 1 | Puttingonthefoil | Luis Contreras | Gonzalo Anderson | Counterforce × Chilli Chines | 8/1 |
| 2 | Wood Ceiling | Jose M. Asencio | Robertino Diodoro | Gun Runner × Responsibleforlove | 12/1 |
| 3 | Take Charge Tom | Rasheed Hughes | Robertino Diodoro | Tom’s d’Etat × Gorgeous Ginny | 8/5 (Fav) |
| 4 | Dancing Porky | Linton Steadman | Gonzalo Anderson | Honor A. P. × Morning Dance | 20/1 |
| 5 | Counter Cat | Amadeo Perez | Keith Pedersen | Counterforce × I Believe in Angel | 20/1 |
| 6 | Fancy Like That | Keimar Trotman | Anderson Ward | Car Talk (IRE) × Surf Town | 50/1 |
| 7 | Accidental Genius | Enrique Gonzalez | Tim Rycroft | I’ll Have Another × Radish | 12/1 |
| 8 | Border Song | Brian Boodramsingh | Robert Van Overschot | Tapiture × More Than a Song | 30/1 |
| 9 | Attack | N’Rico Prescod | Craig Robert Smith | Munnings × Ammannati (IRE) | 9/2 |
| 10 | Pioneer Storm King | Scott Williams | Robert Henson | Pioneerof the West × Storm Quality | 4/1 |
| 11 | Rondelito | Kimal Santo | Keith Pedersen | Lent × Vandelita | 10/1 |
Top Contenders & Betting Angles
Take Charge Tom – The Redemption Arc
Trainer: Robertino Diodoro sends out the Manitoba Derby first-past-the-post who was controversially DQ’d.
Pedigree: By Tom’s d’Etat, a rising sire known for stamina and late acceleration.
Form: Two wins and a strong stakes resume. Tactical speed and proven class.
Betting Insight: Heavy favorite with a score to settle. Strong win candidate.
Attack – The Series Bonus Hunter
Trainer: Craig Smith’s gelding was elevated to winner in the Manitoba Derby.
Pedigree: By Munnings, offering speed and versatility over classic distances.
Form: Two wins and $141K in earnings. Eligible for $100K Western Canadian Derby Series bonus.
Betting Insight: Dangerous late runner with stakes experience. Key exacta player.
Pioneer Storm King – The Alberta Upset Play
Trainer: Robert Henson’s gelding has local seasoning and improving figures.
Pedigree: By Pioneerof the West, bred for dirt stamina.
Form: Consistent allowance form and strong gallop-out metrics.
Betting Insight: Offers value at 4/1. Could surprise with a clean trip.
Longshots with Upside
Puttingonthefoil: Counterforce gelding with tactical speed; could hang on for a piece.
Wood Ceiling: Gun Runner colt with pedigree upside; needs pace to close into.
Accidental Genius: By I’ll Have Another, bred for distance; improving with each start.
Rondelito: Lightly raced but bred for stamina; blinkers off could spark improvement.
Counter Cat: Shares sire with Puttingonthefoil; best used underneath.
Dancing Porky: Honor A. P. pedigree suggests late development; longshot play.
Fancy Like That: Needs major improvement; best used in deep superfectas.
Border Song: Tapiture gelding with turf pedigree; dirt switch is a question mark.
Expect a tactical battle between Take Charge Tom and Attack, with Pioneer Storm King and Accidental Genius poised to capitalize if the pace collapses. Bettors should monitor track bias, weight assignments, and late odds shifts for sharper positioning.
