Peter Redekop's Abeliefinthislivin, a maiden winner at Santa Anita before a brief and unfruitful venture on the U.S. Triple Crown trail this spring, found a Derby success north of the border Saturday evening when scoring a 2½-length triumph in the Canadian Derby (G3) at Century Mile Racetrack in Edmonton.
The race, Alberta's premier event for 3-year-olds, is second leg of the Western Canadian Triple Crown, and Abeliefinthislivin, fourth to Reincarnate in the Los Alamitos Derby July 8 in his previous start for trainer Peter Miller, proved up to the task under Amadeo Perez.
Benefitting from swift fractions set by Manitoba Derby runner-up Heroic Move, Abeliefinthislivin was five lengths off the pace under a snug hold heading to the final turn in the 1 1/4-mile contest. He was eager to run when given the cue at the quarter pole, reeled in Heroic Move in the stretch, and powered clear.
Sent off the favorite, Abeliefinthislivin returned $5.40 after finishing the trip in 2:03 flat on a fast track. American Blaze got up to take second, Accidental Hero overtook Heroic Move for third in the 12-horse field.
The Canadian Derby marked the second victory from eight starts for Abeliefinthislivin, a Kentucky-bred son of Arrogate who Alistair Roden Bloodstock bought for $70,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services consigned him. He joined the stable of Barbara Heads a couple of weeks before the Canadian Derby.
Bred by Merriebelle Stable LLC, the gray colt is out of the Pulpit mare Half A. P. His second dam, Half Queen, by Deputy Minister, produced 2003 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Halfbridled.
The Western Canadian Triple Crown began Aug. 7 with Mano Dura taking the Manitoba Derby. The series concludes with the British Columbia Derby (G3) Sept. 16 at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver.
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