Awesome Road Lands in Canada as Morning-Line Favorite for 76th Manitoba Derby
Winnipeg, Manitoba – Awesome Road, a colt that has been moved between multiple barns since a private sale this spring, has now landed in Canada as the morning-line favorite for the 76th running of the $90,150 Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs on Monday night.
The 1 1/8-mile dirt race for 3-year-olds is the annual highlight of the Assiniboia Downs racing season and is scheduled as the seventh of eight races on the card, with a post time of 11:05 p.m. EDT.
After winning his debut last summer at Ellis Park, Awesome Road (7-5) has struggled to find the winner’s circle, failing to win in six races since. The $600,000 Quality Road colt most recently finished fifth in the Texas Derby for former trainer Brad Cox before being sold and transferred to Canada-based conditioner Rick Wise for this event.
“Jockey Antonio Whitehall, second in the Assiniboia Downs rider standings with 25 wins this season, will guide Awesome Road from post position 8 in the field of nine, which includes two colts and seven geldings.”
Bricklayer (5-2), an Always Dreaming colt who has won his last two races at Churchill Downs and Canterbury Park, will start from post 3 with Luis Fuentes aboard for his fourth different trainer in as many starts, owner-trainer Larry Gourneau Jr.
Roussette (9-2), a Blame gelding claimed for $30,000 by owner Henry Witt Jr. after breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs, will break from the outside post 9 with leading Assiniboia rider Prayven Badrie in the irons.
Last year’s Manitoba Derby was part of the inaugural Western Canadian Derby Series, but that has been removed for 2024 due to a government anemia quarantine at Assiniboia Downs. The focus now shifts to the Canadian Derby (G3) on Aug. 24 at Century Mile and the B.C. Derby (G3) on Sept. 14 at Hastings.
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