Back With a Bang
A large crowd of racegoers revelled in superb summer weather and were treated to some magnificent Stakes action, as BC Cup Day returned in style
Highlights
Trainer Edgar Mendoza saddled a Stakes triple
Jockey’s Efrain Hernandez, Kimal Santo and Amadeo Perez had riding doubles.
The Mandatory Pick 5 payout was $1,548.
The Pick 6 was hit again to the tune of $4,460 to one lucky patron.
The handle came in at a sensational $1,156,881.
Just a couple of degrees cooler than Sunday, with a gentle breeze and perfect conditions for the large crowd to enjoy one of the season’s best racing days. Unsurprisingly, the track remained fast all afternoon.
Race 1.
The opener of the day was for two-year-old-maidens going six furlongs and hitting the line first was Craig MacPherson’s LOGICAL AL who raced three wide throughout and proved best winning comfortably under a confident ride from Kerron Khelawan in 1:13.88. Warren Wilson, June Sutherland, Neil Stajkowski, Ross Switzer and Barry Hickman's BRIAN'S DE LEIGHT was impressive on debut showing speed and battling gamely on the pace through sensible splits of 23.48 and 47.52 and did well to stay on for second. Randy Lane and Roy Nelson's ISLAND LIVING was also good in her debut and was stuck in behind the speed rallied late and just missed the runner-up spot ending up third.
Race 2 — BC Cup Debutante Stakes
The second of the day was the first of six stakes races offered and kicking things off was the $50,000 BC Cup Debutante and visiting the winners circle for the blanket presentation was Marty Miller's LOVEABOVEANDBEYOND ($27.20) who sat entire trip in the three path chasing a slow pace under Efrain Hernandez proceeded to get the better of her rivals and out-gamed FILLY FATALE for the victory for trainer Mark Cloutier in 1:19.47. Mark Freeman and Dave Milburn's FILLY FATALE turned in a huge performance setting leisurely fractions of 23.26 and 47.94 under Kimal Santo and was just outrun to the wire ending an impressive runner-up. Mauro Comensoli's MS. STANFORD battled on he head end and stayed on well for third money under Silvino Morales for trainer Dino Condilenios.
Race 3 — BC Cup Distaff Handicap Stakes
The third was the $50,000 BC Cup Distaff for fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth and in her usual style Bill DeCoursey and RNH Stables INFINITE PATIENCE displayed immense talent winning by many for rider Antonio Reyes in 1:43.04. The Barbara Heads trainee broke well chased the quick pace (23.46, 46.35 and 1:11.14) and then drew off with ease on the final bend and cruised under the line for the victory. The Willow Creek Farms WE B THREE ran another good one as she settled on the rail in midpack and came on to get second turning for home and just lasted to win the photo for the runner-up spot. Russ and Lois Bennett's SOLARITY also was comfortable behind the speed and rallied in the stretch to be third.
Race 4 — BC Cup Sprint Allowance
The fourth on the card was the BC Cup Allowance Sprint which was the start of the Mandatory payout Pick 5, which had just over $72,000 prior to wagering this afternoon, and taking home the top prize was Don Danard and Mel Snow's CASCADE BILLY ($7.00) who was given a perfect ride by Kimal Santo and just got up by the narrowest of margins to win 1:16.53. Robin Sadler, John and Kim Morrison's BOLD ARCH was away well and set a reasonable tempo of 22.60 and 45.91 took the field to the stretch on top and just missed by the bob of a nose finished second under Kerron Khelawan. Russ and Lois Bennett's SYNERGY made a successful return to the races after a one year layoff to be a fast closing third beaten less than a length.
Race 5 — BC Cup Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial Handicap Stakes
The fifth of the day was the $50,000 BC Cup Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial for three year olds going a mile and a sixteenth went to Dave and Sylvea Gregory's SOARINGFORTHESUN ($12.90) who was well positioned under Amadeo Perez sitting off of a slow pace of 23.83, 47.91 and 1:12.90 then he started to get away on the field on the stretch turn and cruised in an easy winner in 1:43.89 for trainer Edgar Mendoza. Gord Christoff’s GUNFIGHTER settled nicely off the pace but the slow early tempo didn’t help him and he came with a strong run late to get second money. Kim Peacock and Lance Giesbrecht's REGAL RIOT was away a little slow and out of position early made a middle move and was caught late for second and ended up third.
Race 6 — BC Cup Nursery Stakes
The sixth on the program was for two year olds going six and a half furlongs in the $50,000 BC Cup Nursery and the Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds and James Redekop's LEGACY SQUARE ($4.80) overcame a tough trip to win in deep stretch for trainer Edgar Mendoza. Efrain Hernandez had the son of LENT in a good striking spot had to wait for racing room then found a seam at the eighth pole and got up for the win. The Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds and James Redekop's BAK TO LIBERTY completed the Exactor and was unlucky not to get the win running close to the quick splits of 21.73 and 46.19 battled on bravely to the wire and just got outrun. Don and Sue Danard’s MAGIC ROAD ran a tremendous race in his debut closing up four wide in the final turn and understandably got a little tired in the lane and ended a close third.
Race 7 — BC Cup Classic Handicap Stakes
The seventh race of the day was an exciting affair that featured seven top class older horses to go a mile and a sixteenth in the $50,000 BC Cup Classic and getting a perfect trip was the Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds PORTER GENT ($7.90) who settled off of a slow early cadence 24.02, 47.57 and 1:12.67 then sprinted home unchallenged in 1:43.64 under Amadeo Perez for trainer Edgar Mendoza. Bryan and Carol Anderson's AT ATTENTION wasn’t done any favours with the set up of the race but still charged on in the stretch to get the second spot. Rob VanOverschot’s CHASE THE SUN showed that he could be force to be reckoned with as he jumped up out of allowance company into a stake and spent most of the journey in the three path yet still managed to run on to be third.
Race 8 — BC Cup Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap Stakes
The last of the afternoon was the $50,000 BC Cup Hong Kong Jockey Club stakes for three year old fillies at a mile and a sixteenth and winning convincingly at big odds was the WYN Racing Stables KLOEPATRA ($22.90) who stalked a quick early tempo of 23.63, 46.49 and 1:11.99 under Kimal Santo who subbed for the injured Scott Williams. The Larry Grieve pupil was well prepared and ran like the filly we saw two starts back that broke her maiden in classy style. Bryan and Carol Anderson's AMANDA settled far back off the pace and rallied smartly to get the runner-up spot. John Anderson’s U DID IT missed the break badly which left her in a terrible spot early and was left with too much to do and was only able to rescue third money.
Latest Standings
Owners:
Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds - 7
Rob and Sheena Maybin – 7
George Gilbert - 7
Trainers:
Barbara Heads : 24
Edgar Mendoza : 21
Mark Cloutier : 18
Jockeys:
Amadeo Perez - 38
Antonio Reyes - 33
Efrain Hernandez - 22
Hastings Fan of the Day
Sunday’s Claims
Race 1
Alway's a Knight was claimed by owner/trainer Patty Leaney
Tiz Meow was claimed by owner/trainer James Strachan
Race 4.
Kick Up the Dust was claimed by Ironside Stables and trainer Robert VanOverschot
Race 6.
Walkinthewalk was claimed by Side Pot Stables and trainer Trainer: Dino Condilenios
Hastings returns to the regular Saturday-Sunday schedule next week. First race 2:00 p.m. on both days
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