Monday, August 6, 2007
Purse $100,000

Weather Warning wowed them.

Weather Warning

Touted as a horse that probably would not last the 1 1/8 distance, Weather Warning was definitely not listening to what was said; going wire to wire in dramatic fashion to win the 59 th running of the Manitoba Lotteries Derby.

Weather Warning, a recently acquired charge by Shyman Farms, took the lead and never looked back. Trained by leading trainer and former mutuel seller at Assiniboia Downs Marty Drexler, Weather Warning just toyed with the field and opened up on them to win by four.

“I knew very little about the horse, just that he was stretching out in distance, and I just followed instructions from Marty,” said rider Paul Leacock. Down the stretch, Leacock took a peek and surprised himself. “I knew he was going really good, I was just surprised at how far ahead he was.”

Rage Till Dawn , one of the local favourites in the race, relaxed down the backstretch and rallied for the place position. Owned by Bob and Rob Nokes and Rosemarie Pollock, Rage Till Dawn came into the Derby the fast closing winner of the Derby Trial, and his late kick showed up again, however he could not catch Weather Warning.

A recent claim from Hollywood Park , the 3-year-old Rhythm gelding proved he was worth the investment with a stakes win and a second in “the big one” since the purchase. Rage Till Dawn is trained by Clay Brinson.

Great Discovery , another one from the team of Shyman Farms and Marty Drexler pulled within one of his stablemate at the top of the stretch but could not keep up to the winner and finished third. Angel of the House, trained by Woodbine trainer David Cotey, got up for fourth.

Previous Derby Stories
2006 Manitoba Derby
2005 Manitoba Derby
2004 Manitoba Derby