Ace Trumped

There were 17,000 punters at Winnipeg's Polo Park one afternoon last week. But when the bugle called six of Canada's classiest three-year-olds to the post for the 13th running of the Canadian Derby, there was nobody at the pari-mutuel windows. Reason: touted Ten to Ace, shipped west from Toronto, was so overwhelmingly favored that track officials had declared the race a "no-betting" affair.

Ten to Ace had been dubbed "the greatest Canadian horse of all time." Owned by Harry Giddings, Canada's No. 1 trainer, he had been beaten only once in nine starts, and then only because of an injury.

Last week Canadians were reminded that even ah Ace can be trumped. Starting out like a whizz-ten lengths in front at three furlongs, 20 in front at the halfway mark-the colt that had wiped out all bets for the Derby fizzled on the last turn. He finished last.

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