Ontario Derby 2013 Contenders at Woodbine Racetrack

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 3 Ontario Derby comes our way this Sunday, September 15 from a busy Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. A group of three year olds will take to Woodbine's dirt track and race 1 1/16 miles for a purse of $150,000.

The Ontario Derby has attracted a field of six three year olds to go in race 6 on Woodbine's Sunday card. Post time is 3:30 PM. Here is a brief glance into the past performances of all six combatants for this Grade 3 stakes.

2013 Ontario Derby Race Favorite Entries

Sky Commander - Mark Casse trained gelding has 12 career starts with four wins, a second and a third place finish. Last time out was a fifth in the minor Toronto Cup after three straight wins on this track - the minor Charlie Barley Stakes July 5, an Allowance Optional Claiming in June and a Claiming score in May. He has also had some poor results in the past but enters looking to get back to the form we saw just a couple of months ago. Sky Commander knows this track well and enters as one of the most experienced in the field. He is expected to challenge for the title as one of the two most decorated entries in the field.

Winning Cause - Todd Pletcher trained colt has placed in seven of eight starts this year - the best result coming April 20 - a terrific win in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. Since then he has a pair of seconds in minor stakes action on this track - the Marine Stakes in May and the Victoria Stakes in June, a win in the minor Sir Cat Stakes at Saratoga and a third last time out in the minor Dance of Life Stakes also at Saratoga August 21. He is has a lot of stakes experience in his young career, is the only graded stakes winner among the six combatants and is expected to challenge Sunday.

Ontario Derby 2013 | Remaining Contenders

Coastal Breeze - Wayne Catalano trained colt has won two of his last three starts heading into this weekend - a MSW at Arlington Park in May and an Allowance Optional Claiming on that same track in June. Last time out was a respectable second in the minor Mystic Lady Derby at Canterbury Park August 3. He has two wins, two seconds and a third place finish in eight career starts and enters in the best form of his career.

Ontario Derby betting at Woodbine Racetrack with OffTrackBetting.com

Pyrite Mountain - 6/1 - finished fourth behind Dynamic Sky in the Plate Trial Stakes June 9 after an impressive win in the minor Wando Stakes over Uncaptured, Canada's Horse of the Year in 2012 here May 5. He also won the Kingarvie Stakes on this track in November. Last time out was an OK third in the Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine August 18 after a seventh in the Queen's Plate here July 7. Pyrite Mountain has been competitive indeed the last year as he tries to break through in graded stakes company Sunday.

His Race to Win - has won two of his last four starts on this track - an Allowance last time out and a MSW in May and had a second in the minor Plate Trial Stakes in June. In perhaps his biggest career start he came up flat however - a sixth July 7 in the minor Queen's Plate on this track.

B E Boston Strong - has just two career starts for trainer Kevin McCarthy - both at Suffolk Downs. He debuted with a sixth in a MSW and rebounded in his only other starts with a MSW score. Sunday marks a huge step up in competition but a win last time out has brought about a sense of optimism.

2013 Ontario Derby Entries & Odds

Race 6 on Woodbine Racetrack's Sunday card with a Post Time of 3:30 PM.