Lord Kipling Rallies Late, Nips The Max by a “nose” to win 2006 Manitoba Derby

The 2006 $100,000 Manitoba Lotteries Derby for three-year-olds over a mile and an eighth featured a talented eight horse field and produced another exciting and razor close photo finish.

Lord Kipling in the Winner's Circle.

The end result saw Minnesota/Iowa invader Lord Kipling (5-2) with jockey Scott Stevens rally late in the stretch drive to record a photo finish “head” victory over pre-race favourite The Max (2-1) with jockey Paul Leacock. Another local entry, Quick Witted (7-2) with jockey Travis Hightower finished third. The running time for the feature was 1:53.40.

Lord Kipling paid $10.70, $4.10 and $3.40. The triactor of ( 4-3-7) paid $57.90, the exactor was worth $21.50 and the quinella $8.00. Click here for chart.

Lord Kipling with trainer Amber Blair and Jockey Scott Stevens

Owned and bred by Springdale, Arkansas based Center Hills Farm and trained by Amber Blair, this was Lord Kipling’s sixth start of the season and third win to go along with one second and one third place showing this year. The $60,000 first place money increased the Arkansas-bred colt’s season earnings to $96,000. After 7 career starts, his record improves to 3-1-1. This was Lord Kipling’s first run at a mile and an eighth.

Winning jockey Scott Stevens also won the 2003 Manitoba Derby with another Minnesota-based colt Hero’s Pleasure. Stevens was happy to be back for another exciting victory. “You know, he ran exactly the way I thought he was capable”, said Stevens.

He added, “He relaxed real well, in the first part of the races, which was our only concern, and he finished well. He has a bright future ahead of him. Since they have been stretching him out, he’s done nothing but run well, so we can look for more wins.”

Scott Stevens and Amber Blair with Ron Riopka from Manitoba Lotteries.

This was trainer Amber Blair’s first major stakes race victory and was pleased that jockey Scott Stevens suggested she bring Lord Kipling to run at Assiniboia Downs. “We started him off late as a two-year-old because he was a pretty big horse, so we wanted to make sure he was good and sound for his three year old campaign and so far, he’s done really well for us. We’re pretty proud of him. My main concern was if he could relax enough to sit off the pace, and I knew if he could then he’d make a big run on the end and that’s what he did.” Amber added, I’m a little in shock and it hasn’t sunk in yet, but I am very happy.”

Amber Blair and Scott Stevens, cutting the Derby cake.

The Manitoba Lotteries Derby attracted well over 7000 race fans. The total handle for the day was $383,020.89.

 

 

 

 

 

2005 Manitoba Derby

2004 Manitoba Derby