Bricklayer Cements His Claim to the 76th Manitoba Derby

By Scott Taylor (@staylorsports)

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He wasn’t the favourite, but Bricklayer was certainly expected to make some noise in the 76th running of the Manitoba Derby on Monday night.

As it turned out, the three-year-old Kentucky-bred bay colt from Canterbury Park made even more noise than expected.

With a sensational run down the stretch Bricklayer came from six horses back at the head of the turn and won the $125,000 Derby, Manitoba’s most prestigious horse race.

For much of the early part of the 1 1/8-mile route, Bricklayer could see every one of his eight opponents, but jockey Luis Fuentes started to move him up down the backstretch.

At the top of the final turn, Bricklayer turned on the jets, caught the leaders and blew away the field, winning by four lengths. After a photo for second, trainer Shelley Brown’s McEwen with Renaldo Cumberbatch aboard, took the place position. Trainer Steve Keplin’s Lt. Norm with Sven Balroop in the saddle finished third. Lt. Norm won the Manitoba Derby Trial two weeks ago.

Bricklayer, the son of Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming, was claimed for $30,000 at Churchill Downs on June 7. He arrived in Winnipeg for the Manitoba Derby ready and raring to go, coming off two straight wins – a mile allowance on July 14, at Canterbury Downs in Shakopee, Minn., and 1 1/16-mile route on June 27, at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Larry Gourneau, Jr., whose brother Jerry won the Manitoba Derby last year with Mano Dura at 18-1, the Gourneau family has been in the racing business for more than 50 years. As everyone on the ASD backstretch knows, the Gourneau family has a long history of racing – and success — in the upper Midwest of the United States.

Considered a stalker, Bricklayer indeed stalked the leaders beautifully on Monday night. At the opening quarter and through the first half mile, he was dead last. But, of course, this is a 1 1/8-mile marathon and jockey Fuentes was simply biding his time. Fuentes gave Bricklayer a kick at the three-quarter pole and by the head of the lane, he was sixth, but flying. Itsallgoodman, who had led most of the race, had a two-length lead but Fuentes and Bricklayer didn’t even look concerned.

Track announcer Kirt Contois suddenly screamed to the large crowd assembled at the track, “…coming on the far outside, Bricklayer! He’s coming with a furious run! Bricklayer digging deep blows on by and Bricklayer will win the 76th running of the Manitoba Derby!”

Bricklayer is a three-year-old Kentucky-bred bay colt by Always Dreaming out of Haas by Tiznow. Owned by Larry Gourneau Jr. and trained in Winnipeg this week by Lee Delaronde, who has taken over Jerry Gourneau’s barns while Gourneau is on suspension. It must be noted that Bricklayer was given a tremendous ride by jockey Luis Fuentes.

The payouts were sensational for this year’s Derby. Bricklayer went off at 6-1 and paid $14.90 to win, $6.50 to place and $5.00 to show. McEwen, at 25-1 paid $22.50 to place and $12.30 to show and Lt. Norm at 30-1, paid $13.70 to show. The $0.20 Superfecta paid $1,788.68 and the Classic Hi5 carryover paid out $53,407.69.

The two other stakes’ races on Monday night were terrific.

In the fifth running of the $50,000 Escape Clause Stakes for three-year-old-and-up fillies and mares, the heavy favourite, trainer Marvin Buffalo’s Spitten Kitten built a huge lead heading into the final turn but Neville Stephenson, aboard JJ’s American Diva finished in a flurry and nearly caught jockey Renaldo Cumberbatch at the wire. To his credit, Cumberbatch kept the favourite engaged to the wire and scooped up the trophy.

Spitten Kitten is a four-year-old California-bred charcoal filly that has had a tremendous meet. She has now won three times in the summer of 2024 – last night’s $50,000 Escape Clause Stakes along with the $50,000 LaVerendrye Stakes on June 25 and the $50,000 Canada Stakes on July 16. She completely dominated the 47th running of the Canada Stakes, leading from gate to wire and winning by five lengths.

Monday night Spitten Kitten, off at 4-5, paid $3.80 to win, $2.70 to place and $2.30 to show. JJ’s American Diva, a 60-1 longshot, paid $18.70 to place and $10.30 to show. Big Stretch, at 12-1 ridden by Prayven Badrie, finished third and paid $5.00 to show. The $0.20 Superfecta of 4-7-2-8 paid $573.03.

Next, in the $50,000 Harvey Warner Manitoba Mile, jockey Prayven Badrie gave Blazing Bo a tremendous ride.

Blazing Bo and Big Nick, with Damario Bynoe aboard, battled right to the wire, but after the stewards requested a photo, it was quite apparent that Blazing Bo was the winner.

Blazing Bo is a four-year-old bay gelding owned by A2 Thoroughbreds and trained by Michael Nault. Going off at 7-2, Blazing Bo paid $9.70 to win, $4.50 to place and $3,20 to show. Big Nick, at 6-1, paid $7.60 to place and $5.20 to show while Jeff Fa Fa at 6-1 finished third and paid $4.80.

Fans wagered $3,743,784 on the 8-race card, the highest Derby night handle in the track’s history.

“What a fantastic night,” said Downs CEO Darren Dunn. “The ambiance of the huge crowd creates such an energy in the grandstand. It is wonderful to the see the crowd so engaged and the monster wagering pools for the event. We are so thankful for all of the support from fans, horsepeople and the ASD team.”

Racing continues at Assiniboia Downs tonight. First post is 7:35 p.m.