Truly Unbelievable takes Round 1

Four-time Manitoba Derby-winning trainer Robertino Diodoro served notice that he has another one in his sights when he turned loose Truly Unbelievable on Tuesday night to take the measure of Classico in the $25,000 Corporate Shuffle Overnight Stakes. That was one of four stakes run this week, two of which were won by longshots.

Sent off as the second choice behind Classico, who was impressive in an allowance race win in his previous start, Truly Unbelievable duelled with his rival three-year-old to the stretch before drawing out under jockey Kimal Santo to win by 2½-lengths.

Shipped into the barn of local trainer Rick Wise from Sunland Park in New Mexico a week before the race, Truly Unbelievable had finished a well-beaten fifth in the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park on Jan. 18, but appeared to be a different horse on Tuesday.

“That was a very tough race, and he had a rough trip,” said Diodoro, speaking from his barn in Texas. “We gave him some time off after that race to mature physically and mentally, and it appears to have done him some good.”

One of North America’s top trainers, Diodoro won Manitoba’s signature race in 2022, 2019, 2018 and 2016, and saddled Take Charge Tom to actually cross the finish line first in the race last year, but was disqualified for interference shortly after leaving the starting gate.

Diodoro is hoping for a better result this year, and definitely knows how much horse he needs to win the Derby. He was happy with Tuesday, but said his horse still has some questions to answer, including his ability to go a distance of ground.

“We’ll point him to the Golden Boy Stakes next, and then the Derby Trial,” said Diodoro, who operates stables in Texas, Louisiana and Kentucky and ranks eighth in wins among North American trainers by with a record of 81-37-33 from 254 starts for purse earnings of $1,614,424.

In the $50,000 Golden Boy Stakes on June 23, Truly Unbelievable will likely meet Prime Suspect, who has jackhammered his competition into submission in two straight races here for trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. since arriving from Oaklawn Park.

Two top trainers with two very exciting horses in a race you don’t want to miss. Win or lose, both should have time to develop nicely before the $125,000 Manitoba Derby on Aug. 3.

Another shipper that made quick work of her competition this week was Evolution, conditioned by Will Tourangeau to win the $25,000 Beausox Overnight Stakes on Wednesday. Confidently ridden by Antonio Whitehall, the Kentucky shipper was claimed at Keeneland for $30,000 on April 23, but had run in stakes at Oaklawn Park, Tampa Bay Downs, Gulfstream Park and Saratoga.

Now campaigned by Cattleman’s Club Stable, Evolution smoothly moved to the lead early under Whitehall, and displayed her clear class edge for the rest of the race, drawing out to win by 4¼-lengths.

Tourangeau, who hails from Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan, has always been known as one of the best caretakers of horses locally, but had mostly conditioned claiming horses. He learned his trade as a top conditioner of horses for the popular Chuckwagon Races, which was where he met one of the owners of Cattleman’s Club Stable, Clint Desjardins.

Desjardins is the nephew of former ASD leading trainer Emile Corbel, who now acts as the racing manager for the stable. Corbel was seen in the winner’s circle after the race, sporting a bright green jacket and giving a thumbs up to go with his ear-to-ear smile. This three-year-old filly has some serious back class and will be another exciting horse to watch at the Downs this year.

While the aforementioned three-year-olds were both short-priced winners, the longshots came out to play in the other two stakes this week.

Trainer Wendy Anderson, who is third in the standings and off to a good start, quickly made her year even better in the $25,000 Lil Missknowitall Overnight Stakes on Wednesday, when she saddled 25-1 shot Spin the Breeze to win fresh off the claim under jockey Kerron Khelawan.

Haltered as a breeding prospect for $12,500 in her previous start on May 20, the five-year-old Hard Spun mare worked to get the lead early from local star Welcometohollywood and never relinquished it, holding on to win by three-quarters of a length.

Welcometohollywood ran a much improved race in her second start of the season to finish third at 9-1 for trainer Jared Brown. She battled for second and finished a half a length out of that spot in third. Add her to your horses to watch list.

Finally — and of course — runaway leading trainer Jerry Gourneau was in the winner’s circle in the $50,000 Beau Blade Stakes on Tuesday with a longshot. Bergheim surged between horses on the turn under jockey Renaldo Cumberbatch, and outdueled his competition at 16-1 to prevail by a length.

Gourneau is on a serious roll right now, winning eight of the 21 races this week to bring his meet-leading total to 18 victories, 10 more than Steve Keplin, Jr. And he’s showing no signs of stopping.

With favourites, or longshots.