Ontario Derby Exotics Plays

A cast of seven sophomores will run 1 1/8 miles on the Tapeta at Woodbine in Saturday’s $135,000 Ontario Derby (G3). Morning-line choice #5 Dresden Row (9-5) impressed me when defeating his elders in the Durham Cup S. (G3) while registering a robust 99 Brisnet Speed number, and I see no reason to go against the son of Lord Nelson on this day. Trained by Lorne Richards, the chestnut colt dons a 5-4-0-1 mark on the main oval locally and ran his best race to date last out when getting up late to defeat a nice group. 

Ontario Derby Exotics

• $20 exacta 5 with 1 ($20)
• $10 exacta 5 with 3 ($10)
• $5 trifecta key 5 with 1,3 ($10)
• $1 superfecta 5 with 1 with 3 with all ($4)
• $1 superfecta 5 with 1 with all with 3 ($4)

The Kentucky-bred is 2-for-2 routing on the synthetic in advance of this tilt, and the sophomore has both good tactical speed as well as a fine turn of foot. Dresden Row will be well placed throughout the event with regular rider Ryan Munger in the controls. 

Turf allowance victor #1 Bail Us Out (4-1) graduated on the all-weather oval at Gulfstream Park in February in his lone synthetic appearance to date and looms a big chance with a forward move on Saturday. Lookin At Lucky three-year-old brought $700,000 as a two-year-old, and he is lightly raced enough to have significant improvement in him for top local conditioner Kevin Attard. The gelding is well drawn on the rail to save ground early and make one run in the stretch in his stakes debut. Kaz Kimura will be in the silks. 

#3 Two Ghosts (15-1) capped his juvenile campaign with a rallying score in the Grey S. (G3) while making his two-turn debut, and I feel that the dark bay can add a lot of value to the gimmicks in his second run off the layoff. The Barbara Minshall charge was a solid winner over allowance foes on the turf in his latest offering, and the son of Ghostzapper owns four top-two finishes from seven lifetime tries on the surface as well. He drilled a bullet five-eighths as of late and will rally from off the pace with Fraser Aebly inheriting the mount.