Monday’s Manitoba Derby Day card at Assiniboia Downs features two significant carryovers. The pick 5 has a mandatory payout provision on Races 4-8 and a $320,741 (USD) carryover. The super hi 5 has a $14,800 (USD) carryover on the Race 8 finale. Those playing the late pick 4 (Races 5-8) can also take part in a 2 Million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split promotion when you opt in with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet.
Time to get to work.
Assiniboia Downs // Race 4 // claiming
Comments: Favorites are 47-93 in claiming races at the meeting (51%) and top billing here likely goes between #8 Last Renegade and #5 Hot Stove League. Both are exiting claims and you’d have to give the edge to Hot Stove League in that new trainer William Tourangeau is 17: 7-3-5 at the meet and simply doesn’t misfire. Wide post in last for Hot Stove League offers some excuse for the late fade and can make amends by saving a bit more ground. Longshot look to #6 Side Street Dave with rider change to high-percentage Damario Bynoe. Side Street Dave was bet to 5-2 vs. similar last time and will be a much juicier price.
Assiniboia Downs // Race 5 // $50,000 Escape Clause Stakes
Comments: Five of these 9 exit the Canada Stakes, a race easily wired by #4 Spitten Kitten at even-money odds. She’s completely loose on the lead again and it’s hard to envision any tables being turned from those re-matched. #9 Burrow Down offers serious opposition, however, in her local return. She’s 7-for-8 at Assiniboia Downs while third in this race a year ago in her only local defeat. Defending champ #2 Big Stretch hasn’t been competitive so far this year. Single for me, #4 Spitten Kitten.
Assiniboia Downs // Race 6 // $50,000 Manitoba Mile
Comments: #8 Big Nick has lost 6 straight since a romping win in this race a year ago. Morning line favorite #1 Exacting was the beaten chalk last out when #4 Blazing Bo was a 12-1 upsetter in notching his first stakes victory. This race wears thin on trust and may be a good spot to dig deep on the ticket. There’s a lot of pace, so a clunk-up closer at a price might fit the bill. #3 Convention was second in this race last year at 30-1 and has been running shorter distances than his best so far this campaign. That’s my upset look at 30-1 morning line.
Assiniboia Downs // Race 7 // $125,000 Manitoba Derby
Comments: #8 Awesome Road is the 7-5 morning line favorite after competing stateside for Brad Cox and Robertino Diodoro. He’ll be saddled locally by Rick Wise (15: 6-3-2 at the current meet) and should be finishing with interest. The 9-furlong trip ought to sort these out and help the favorite’s obvious class edge as a $600,000 son of Quality Road out of a half-sister to Pulpit. Despite being off the board in the Texas Derby and Southwest this year, he should stack up strongly. #3 Bricklayer was privately purchased after his $50,000 maiden claiming score at Churchill Downs in late June, and the son of Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming paid immediate dividends winning a Canterbury Park allowance. Luis Fuentes, his pilot at Canterbury, retains the mount, his first at Assiniboia. Oaklawn/Prairie Meadows-experienced Mr. Fillip dominated the Derby Trial, Assiniboia’s top local prep, and is absent from the entries. That puts a strong emphasis on the out-of-town shippers.
Assiniboia Downs // Race 8 // allowance
Comments: Jockeys Dane Dawkins (#4 Curly Esa) and Dario Dalrymple (#5 Slew’s Bak) both are on price horses in this 6-furlong sprint finale. Both have excelled this current Assiniboia meet in 6-furlong sprints with strong win rates and positive ROIs. Both of their mounts exit victories at the trip and are return rides. Morning line choice #6 Mr. Dazzle has been extremely effective at this class level and would be the third inclusion on my ticket. Meanwhile, #8 Replete is 3-1 morning line, but has won just 1 of his last 8, while #1 Starship Chewbecca (7-2 morning line) has lost 8 in a row. I’ll try to beat that pair once again in the top spot, but they're steady sorts to consider in the carryover super hi 5 underneath.
.svg){kind=logo}
