Delaware shipper It Happened Again, making his first start for trainer Terry Jordan, is among the favorites for the $300,000 Canadian Derby (Can-III) Aug. 22 at Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta.
Twelve 3-year-olds are entered in the 80th renewal of the Canadian Derby, which is contested at 1 3/8 miles on Northlands' dirt bullring. All carry 126 pounds.
It Happened Again, previously with the Larry Jones barn, has won four of 11 starts with a pair of seconds and a third. He is coming off a distant second-place effort to Our Edge in Delaware's Barbaro Stakes (gr. III) Aug. 3. The Kentucky-bred son of Proud Citizen, owned by Peter Redekop, is looking for his first stakes win since capturing the Triple Sec at Delta Downs in January.
"We've had him for a week," the Woodbine-based Jordan said of It Happened Again, who is out of the Quiet American mare Quiet Lucky. "I don't know much about him. But I'm sure he can go the distance."
Jordan has been winning at a 32% clip so far this year. Quincy Welch, the second-leading rider currently at Northlands, has the mount on It Happened Again. The chestnut colt breaks from post 3.
Southern California invader Scorewithcater, from the barn of Doug O'Neill, will be handled by Edmonton-based trainer Jim Meyaard, who has enlisted the services of Northland's leading jockey, Rickey Walcott. Scorewithcater is breaking from post 7.
"I trained him two rounds and he felt good," said Meyaard, second among Northlands' trainers in victories this season. "He came here (to Northlands) like it was his old home."
Scorewithcater has had a busy 3-year-old campaign against top company, winning two of seven starts with two thirds and earning $232,320 for owner Robert Master.
The Kentucky-bred son of Even the Score won Sunland Park's Borderland Derby Feb. 28 by a neck over Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird. The chestnut colt followed that effort with a third in the Sunland Derby and a fifth-place finish in Belmont Park's Peter Pan (gr. II) in May. He returned home to Hollywood Park, where he turned in a fourth-place showing in the Affirmed Handicap (gr. III), and then ran third in the Swaps (gr. II) in his most recent try July 18.
Woodbine stakes winner Stylish Citizen makes his first foray outside of Toronto for hot trainer John Ross, but he will still have his regular rider James McAleney aboard. Stylish Citizen, who is also by Proud Citizen, won the Barley Stakes on Polytrack June 20, then captured a nine-furlong grass allowance event for optional claimers July 18. Casanova Stud Enterprises owns the Kentucky-bred bay colt.
Ross, who was scheduled to arrive in Edmonton Aug. 19, is clicking at better than 30% with a limited number of starters this year.
Tommy Danzigger ships in from Hastings Park, where he just won a stakes Aug. 3 and has not been worse than third in his past five starts there, all in stakes company. Robert Gilker trains the B.C.-bred son of High Demand for Edgar B. Smith.
Cool Diablo, Mr. Shadar and Quiet Approach, the first three finishers in Northlands' Count Latham Handicap Aug. 1, top the locally-based contingent.
$300,000 Canadian Derby (Can-III, Race 10, 3:47 p.m), 3-Year-Olds, 1 3/8 Miles
PP. Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. Mr. Shadar (AB), R W Walcott, R Hedge
2. Theglow (KY), R R Singh, C Torevell
3. It Happened Again (KY), Q Welch, T Jordan
4. Tease the Tiger (ON), J Barton, M Russell
5. Stylish Citizen (KY), J McAleney, J A Ross
6. Tommy Danzigger (BC), P V Alvarado, R Gilker
7. Scorewithcater (KY), R A Walcott, J Meyaard
8. Quiet Approach (MD), H C Huston, R J Cone
9. Cool Diablo (AB), R E Simard, C Anderson
10. Almost Time (BC), F P Fuentes, D K Condilenios
11. Bronze Barbarian (AB), R D Blinston, C Christoffersen
12. Crowned Royal (KY), S Heiler, R Diodoro
All carry 126 pounds.