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2004 MB Derby
Alberta-bred three-year-old colt
Royalty Boy, owned by Derrick Antingham, Donald
Propp and Brian Gromoff of Edmonton, scored a major
upset Monday, August 2 by winning the $100,000 Manitoba
Lotteries Derby over a mile and an eighth over local
entries Skipper and the pre-race favourite Shanghied.
With jockey Real Simard on board, Royalty Boy left
the starting gate at almost 7-1 odds. Following
the early pace set by Manitoba-bred Albarino with
Jason Leacock, Shanghied with Travis Hightower and
Skipper with Ken Hendricks, Royalty Boy ran fourth
behind the early front-runners. Then, Simard and
Royalty Boy advanced four wide on the final turn
and pulled into the lead to score a 3-1/2-lengths
victory over Skipper with Shanghied finishing third.
This was Royalty Boy’s fifth start of the
season under trainer Bruce Phelan and his second
win along with one-second-place finish this season
and also his first 2004 season stakes victory. His
best previous stakes race outing prior to coming
he Manitoba Lotteries Derby was a second place finish
in the Hoof Prints On My Heart Handicap at Stampede
Park on May 30. In his last outing prior to the
Manitoba Derby on July 14 at Northlands Park, Park
Royalty Boy won a one-mile$20,000 allowance feature
by 5-1/4-lengths.
The running time for the feature was 1:52.00. Royalty
Boy paid $15.50, $5.20 and $3.10. The triactor of
4-6-1 was worth $245.60, the exactor $146.30 and
the quinella $53.40. With top purse money of $60,000
Royalty Boy’s season earnings total is now
83,702 and his career earnings now total $121, 273.
This was jockey Real Simard’s second career
Manitoba Derby victory. He previous won the Manitoba
Derby crown in 1999 with A Fleet Dancer. Last year,
Simard was on board Western Canada’s top-three-year-old
and the pre-race favourite Taiaslew for trainer
Greg Tracy in the 2003 Manitoba Derby. However,
they came up second best when Minnesota-invader
Hero’s Pleasure, trained by Doug Oliver and
ridden by Scott Stevens rallied in the final few
yards to win.
"I wasn’t
sure if any of the field would break out with Shanghied,
but it worked out right away. I could tell right
away there was a couple going with him so I said
this will be nice, just sit there in the garden
spot right behind the leaders and I made my move
wide on the turn," said Simard following the
win. Simard added, " Last year I came and wasn’t
as happy when Hero’s Pleasure beat me and
Taiaslew, but this year, I guess I kind of redeemed
myself."
Trainer Bruce Phelan admitted he was concerned
about Shanghied especially after his winning performance
in the Manitoba Derby Trial a few weeks ago. "
I was nervous about Shanghied all the time, but
it all worked out, Real gave us a terrific ride
and the horse gave us a terrific run." Phelan
added, " I just told Real to lay where he could
lay and see if he could make a run for it. Real
is an experienced jockey, I was his agent for six
years. We have always got along well and it was
just a delight to have him on the horse and train
for Royalty Boy’s owners.
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Co-owners
Derrick Antingham, Donald Propp and Brian
Gromoff had no apprehensions regarding their
horse’s performance in the Manitoba
Lotteries Derby. All three confirmed that
following this win, they will now definitely
chase both the Canadian Derby in Edmonton
later this month and then the BC Derby at
Hastings Park in Vancouver. |
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