From 10th to 1st in the Grade 3

August Rain stormed from 10th place, navigating traffic and taking a wide path to clinch victory in the Grade 3, US$144,488 Canadian Derby at Century Mile in Edmonton on Saturday night.

The win marked a repeat triumph in the 1 1/4-mile dirt race for 3-year-olds for owner Peter Redekop, trainer Barbara Heads, and jockey Amadeo Pérez. The trio also celebrated success last year with Abeliefinthislivin in the race, part of the Western Canadian Derby Series, which culminates on September 14 with the British Columbia Derby at Hastings.

A Sungold gelding bred in Canada, August Rain (5-4) was unhurried early, settling near the back of the 11-horse field while Itsallgoodman (21-1) set sharp opening fractions of 22.04, 45.37, and 1:10.41.

As Itsallgoodman faded dramatically on the second turn, eventually finishing last, Pérez began to ask more of August Rain. Briefly, the longshot Lord of Battle (33-1) held the lead through a mile in 1:37.57, but August Rain, still in seventh, had halved his deficit.

Blocked initially at the top of the stretch, Pérez angled out and found clear running room. August Rain surged past J Dutton (5-1) in mid-stretch, powering home to a 2 3/4-length victory in a time of 2:04.94 on a fast track.

August Rain paid $4.50, $2.90, and $2.70 across the board. J Dutton, who ran a strong race from mid-pack, finished second, returning $5.30 and $4.40. Roussette, who closed from last, finished another 2 1/4 lengths back in third, paying $11.60 to show.

Purchased for US$15,244 last year at a Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society sale in British Columbia, August Rain is out of the Street Sense mare Bitatude. The victory was his first in graded stakes company, bringing his record to six wins from 10 starts, all in stakes races.

For Pérez, this was his third Canadian Derby win, having previously scored in 2019 when Explode was elevated from second to first after a disqualification.