ONT Derby G3 $150.000
1 1/8 Miles Dirt for 3 Year Olds
Woodbine October 18, 2025

Stalking seems to have been the tactic of choice in the 2025 ONT Derby. Checkered was sent from post seven and set a fast pace with half the field tracking behind him. The rabbit set a fast pace with four contenders following right behind. The two horses further out in the four-way stalking battle (Grit And Grind and Archiduque) seem to have suffered from having to go widest around two turns. Those two faded while insiders Criminal Law and Adrenaline took advantage of the fast pace to pass the leader in the stretch and finish first and third barely holding off a hard charging Gymnast who had sat well back early.

Winner: Criminal Law Lawful/Misbehaving Lady (Malibu Moon) Sat off the pace and rallied strongly into the stretch. Was the best of his three stalking rivals and came home in stakes record time of 1:47.60 for the nine furlongs. This was his second graded stakes win this year having won the G2 Day Mile back in May. 

Second: Gymnast Great State/Grand Cyclone (Grande Sournoise) Another strong race from a colt who always seems to find a way to be in the mix at the end of his races. Came up just short and there is no doubt that having to go eight wide in the stretch didn’t help his effort very much.

Third: Adrenaline People Pleaser/Risky Behavior (Tactical) Benefited from his inside post and position on the rail all the way around and held on for third after a tough aforementioned four-way stalking battle. Another gritty three-year-old who consistently shows up and turns in one good effort after another. 

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES