20 Nominations for 75th Manitoba Derby

Trainer Robertino Diodoro nominates pair in drive for five

It must have something to do with the fact that the Manitoba Derby is the first race in the Western Canadian Triple Crown series, which offers a bonus of $100,000 to any horses that can sweep the Manitoba Derby, the $200,000 Canadian Derby at Century Mile on Saturday August 26 and the $125,000 BC Derby at Hastings Racecourse on Saturday, September 16.

Elite North American trainer Robertino Diodoro, who has won the Manitoba Derby a record four times (2016, 2018, 2019, 2022), has two horses nominated for this year’s Derby, including Heroic Move, who was most recently a troubled third in the $250,000 Iowa Derby, and B Minor, who broke his maiden going a mile in a $120,000 Maiden Special Weight race at Churchill Downs.

Other notable out of town nominations include Century Mile Count Latham Handicap runner up Kauai Dan, trained by Craig Smith, who also nominated Tshiebwe, a recent $100,000 Maiden Claiming winner at Ellis Park. And Hastings Racecourse Ascot Graduation Stakes winner Sunbird, who is undefeated in three starts for trainer Terry Jordan.

Local favourites nominated for our biggest race of the year include Golden Boy Stakes winner Chicago’s Gray for trainer Murray Duncan, Derby Trial winner Saxon Saga for trainer Wendy Anderson, and Mano Dura, a classy local allowance winner from Texas for trainer Jerry Gourneau and Assiniboia Downs annual leading owner, Henry S. Witt, Jr., who has four horses nominated in total. And of course, Private Frank, who we mentioned above.

The 2023 Manitoba Derby could have one of our largest Derby fields ever, and a crowd to match! See all the Past Performances for the nominees here. And get tied on early!