Bricklayer closes from last place to win Manitoba Derby
Closing against a slow pace, Bricklayer surged from the back of the nine-horse field to take the lead in the deep stretch and run on to a 3 1/4-length victory Monday night in the 76th Manitoba Derby, a US$92,412 race covering 1 1/8 miles at Assiniboia Downs.
It was the third win in 39 days for the Always Dreaming colt who had not raced in a stakes before Monday. He was bought privately in the past six weeks by Larry Gorneau Jr., who had not trained a starter in seven years and a winner in nine.
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Ridden by Canterbury Park’s leading jockey Luis Fuentes, Bricklayer (6-1) bided his time in eighth place as the field passed the grandstand for the first time. Maiden winner Lucky Appeal (66-1) led Itsallgoodman (6-1) by a half-length through a 24.06-second first quarter-mile.
Lucky Appeal relinquished to Itsallgoodman, a two-time restricted-stakes winner as a 2-year-old, just past the first half-mile. Recent allowance winner McEwen (25-1), post-time favorite Awesome Road (3-2) and maiden victor Roussette (9-2) were within 1 3/4 lengths of the front as the half took 48.60 seconds.
After traveling in last place, Bricklayer accelerated near the end of the backstretch, moving into sixth. Itsallgoodman led by a length over Awesome Road, who had lost three Kentucky Derby preps under his former trainer Brad Cox. Roussette, Derby Trial runner-up Lt. Norm (34-1) and McEwen were bunched close behind through three-quarters of a mile in 1:14.23.
As the field turned for home, Itsallgoodman was challenged first by McEwen and Lt. Norm. Spinning five wide into the stretch, Bricklayer picked off rivals through the run home, powering into second place as the first mile went in 1:42.26.
Bricklayer authoritatively took the lead just before the sixteenth pole, leaving no doubt about the outcome. His winning time was 1:56.55 on the fast dirt track.
McEwen finished second, Lt. Norm third and Itsallgoodman fourth. Roussette, Awesome Road, No Show No Call (7-1), Magnolia Speed (30-1) and Lucky Appeal completed the finish in that order.
Bricklayer returned $14.90, $6.50 and $5.00; McEwen $22.40 and $12.30; and Lt. Norm $13.70.
Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation, Bricklayer was sold to Gorneau between his maiden-breaking win June 27 for owner-trainer Ben Colebrook at Churchill Downs and an allowance victory 17 days later at Canterbury Park. He was bought first at a yearling sale for $20,000 by trainer Michael McCarthy. After five losses in Kentucky maiden races, Bricklayer was claimed by Colebrook on June 7 at Churchill Downs for $30,000.
Bricklayer ran his record to 8: 3-1-2. Adding US$56,108 for Monday’s win, his purse earnings rose to $138,850.
Last year’s Manitoba Derby was part of the inaugural version of what has been renamed the Western Canadian Derby Series. It was removed this year because of an equine-anemia quarantine imposed this summer on Assiniboia Downs, leaving only the Aug. 24 Canadian Derby (G3) at Century Mile and the Sept. 14 B.C. Derby (G3) at Hastings.