Alpha Bettor seeks for the first win of his career, as he works ahead of the Ontario Derby at Woodbine
The $150,000 Ontario Derby has reeled in a solid line-up of nine runners, in an event which is open for 3-year-olds. Among the nine runners is the Alphabet Soup colt, Alpha Bettor, who has been preparing for the Derby for a while now.
The Ontario Derby will be held at Woodbine over its synthetic surface on 24 September, 2011, and will be headed by the two Grade 2 $1 million Pennsylvania Derby entrants, Moonshine Mullin and Pender Harbour.
The 3-year-old Daniel Vella trained colt, Alpha Bettor, seems to be in good form, but not able to enter the winners' circle as yet, missing out on his two maiden claimers in 2010, where he finished 4th, twice, at Woodbine.
Then followed by a display race where he finished 7th, and then finally finished on the board, second in an allowance race at about 7 furlongs on 17 April, 2011.
It was a matter of time, but the time never came for Alpha Bettor and his connections, but all was not lost as he gave them enough to keep their hopes alive.
On 12 June, 2011, Alpha Bettor went up against Moonshine Mullin in the Victoria Park at Woodbine, and ran his best race to date in the 1 1/8 mile stakes race, but got beaten by a nose and finished as the runner-up behind Moonshine Mullin.
Since then, the colt has faded with distant finishes like 6th and 9th in his next couple of races, also at Woodbine, but trainer Daniel Vella believes his colt is in great shape and form, witnessing his runner work five furlongs in
1 minute and 1.20 seconds on the morning of 19 September.
It was a pleasing sight for the conditioner, and the 19th September workout was followed by a solid workout, a six furlong drill in about 1 minute and 12.80 seconds.
Alpha Bettor has a golden opportunity of utilising his top form to goof effect, and getting the best of Moonshine Mullin and Pender Harbour in one race.
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