LETHBRIDGE, ALB—JUNE 9, 2018—Fastest qualifier Stripsteak, under jockey Alejandro Hernandez, returned Sunday to defeat stablemate True Copy by three-quarters in the $20,092(US) Peace Country Derby at Grande Prairie. Jd Wagon Boss finished another length back in third.

Saddled by trainer William Leech, Stripsteak completed the 400 yard task in :19.779 seconds, equaling a 107 speed index into a 10 mph crosswind.

Racing for owner Charles G. Stojan, the 3-year-old son of leading sire One Sweet Jess picked up sixth career win from 10 starts. The $9,041(US) payday boosted the bay gelding's earnings mark to more than $25,000.

Steve D. Burns, DVM bred the gelding in California from the Separatist mare Ruths Chris. It was the first stakes win for Stripsteak who was third in the All Canadian Derby last month. He also qualified for the Evergreen Park Juvenile Challenge and Canada Quarter Horse Cup Futurity(G3) at 2.

Graded stakes winning stablemate True Copy was a game second to pick up $4,018(US) for owner Stojan and trainer Leech. Jockey Ricardo Moreno rode the California bred daughter of Tr Dasher who has earned $54,500.

Edward Allred bred the gray filly from the Separatist mare Realistically. True Copy won the aforementioned Canada Quarter Horse Cup Futurity(G3) in 2017 and the All Canadian Derby on June 24th.

Jd Wagon Boss, under jockey Blandford Stewart, drifted out but put in a good effort to finish third. The son of Pyc Paint Your Wagon picked up $2,411(US) for owner-trainer Buckey Stockwell.

Bred in Oklahoma by Jean Dillard, Jd Wagon Boss is from the Fishers Dash mare Elly Mae. A winner of the Evergreen Juvenile Challenge and second in the Grade 2 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship at Los Alamitos Race Course, the brown colt has earned $45,404. He also traveled to New Mexico earlier this year to qualify for the Grade 3 Ruidoso Derby Challenge.

Atomic Blondie, First Prize Cruise, Don’t Hezitate, Shawnee Cartel and Gone To Be Bright completed the field.