Canada Day Previews
The best older horses in BC do battle on Canada Day, with the fillies and mares chasing the Monashee H'cap, while an equally high-quality field of geldings lines-up in the Lieutenant Governors'
QUATRE BAK, WHEN IN MEXICO and MR MORRIS all broke their maidens in their most recent runs and there was much to like about all three efforts. MR MORRIS and WHEN IN MEXICO were both visually impressive when pulling away from their respective rivals to win ‘geared down’, while QUATRE BAK showed great tenacity on just his second lifetime run to narrowly defeat Attain. However, the more experienced duo of FRASER LANDING and Pisco will have plenty to say about where the prize goes today, with both having already been mixing it in tough company and the slightest of nods goes to PISCO, who had Fraser Landing behind when beating subsequent winner Bakburner in May.
JOSE JOSE looked a different class to his rivals when winning comfortably last time in a gate-to-wire effort. The 5yo was allowed to dictate at his own pace before being pushed out gently to beat today’s rival TIME TICKER by several lengths and he’s the one they have to beat. BAK TO LIBERTY makes his third start for a different trainer this season and his first since being claimed last time out when drawing away from Groovin’ is Bak. He now represents the flying Rob Maybin barn and, with leading rider Amadeo Perez in the plate, must be respected. DESIRED OUTCOME would have faced fewer traffic problems galloping down Renfrew Street than he did when third behind Time Ticker last time on what was his first start of the season. He’s another for the shortlist.
This looks tailor-made for NINE OCLOCK CEASER. She beat subsequent winner Duxonthepond on her first outing of the year before then going down by just a neck to subsequent winner, Queen of Attitude, in June, with today’s rival MISS THE HYPE back in fourth. Miss the Hype also ran well behind Queen of Attitude last time but that was over the mile-and-sixteenth course and they’re back to sprinting again here. ROSE OF TEXAS beat subsequent winner Ostracize last time out in June and, while this is a small step up in class, is from an in-form barn and should be in the mix.
It’s been a while since PRINCE CAIRO got his head in front for the Hastings Racing Club, but he was rallying well behind the smart Jose Jose and Time Ticker last time and finally gets a chance to stretch his legs over the mile-and-sixteenth course. BRIAN’S DE LEIGHT is another who should appreciate the step-up in distance after two below par efforts most recently. He won on his first outing, however, and his best form is when going ‘long’. HIGHER IMAGE takes on the boys but has been in cracking form this season, following up a May win over Weekendindelmar with a traffic-troubled second to MATSQUI last time. She definitely needs to be on the shortlist.
WE B THREE has had the wildlife running for cover with some blistering workouts in the mornings of late and lines-up here for the first time since trouncing today’s rivals MISS UNION and VIVA LA VINO in the Emerald Downs Stakes. Last season’s Horse of the Year INFINITE PATIENCE ran disappointingly in the same contest, finishing fourth, but she is a totally different beast when able to take on the longer distance and she gets that chance for the first time this season. Ignore her at your peril. Last season’s Champion 3yo filly AIR FORCE beat Viva La Vino and Miss Union in her first race of the season. She was scratched last time when a little under the weather but the barn has hit form of late and she remains a major threat.
There was nothing ‘flukey’ about last month’s George Royal Stakes win by longshot SETTECENTO. Sat in behind a fast pace, he was delivered late to the line and was the victor on merit. However, today is over a mile-and-sixteenth and several of those who finished behind Settecento have been impatiently waiting for the chance to go ‘long’. BOLD ARCH (who goes for a fifth consecutive win today) grazed the track record last time out and remains a potent threat over the longer track although, with STORMY BLUE and BAKKEN OVERDRIVE in the field, he is unlikely to have things quite as easy on the front end today. AT ATTENTION’s two outings this year have been in the service of preparing him for the longer races and he should be a different proposition here, while last year’s leading 3yo SUNBIRD didn’t enjoy the clearest passage in what became a congested end to the George Royal and he’s also better over the longer distance. That also applies to SOARINGFORTHESUN, who missed the break and was declared a non-starter. Prior to that, however, he had Sunbird and BIG UNION behind in his first outing back in May. Finally, SPACE should also be a different threat today after two outings over an insufficient 6½ furlong. Last season’s BC Derby third had Stormy Blue behind when winning an Allowance race over this distance last September.
ENGLISH BAY TEDDY ran arguably the race of his career when winning last time out and, while this represents a small step back up the class ladder, he has perfectly good form in better company from last season and remains a major player here. Having hit the board in 36 of his 47 lifetime starts, QUAGMIRE continues to be a remarkable servant to his connections and he won’t be far away, while AVE’S IN COMMAND goes for a hat-trick of wins on the season and had Quagmire and RACING RIVER behind last time. Delivering perennial bridesmaid KNOPFLER to the sharp end at exactly the right time remains a high-wire act for his rider, but Silvino Morales did it perfectly last time out and he should be thereabouts again today.
Lisa & Mike’s Canada Day Picks
Statistics
Friday Night Claims
Race 1.
NU SOUP FOR BABY was claimed by owner Michelle Roberts-Henson for trainer Robert HensonRace 2.
WICKED NIGHT was claimed by owners Sasquatch Stables, Greg Beneen and Heather Clark for trainer Greg BeneenRace 4.
STANFORD NORTH was claimed by owner Saundra Chipman for trainer Geovani OlaldeRace 7.
DREAMING D’ORO was claimed by owners Ironside Stables Ltd for trainer Rob VanOvershot
New Stride News
Jockey Club of Canada Appoints
New Chief Steward
The Board of Stewards has appointed Doug Anderson to succeed R. Glenn Sikura as Chief Steward, effective on June 29th, 2024, at The Jockey Club of Canada’s Annual General Meeting.
Doug has been involved in the thoroughbred industry in Canada for many years and is a valued member of The Jockey Club of Canada. Doug has been involved as an owner of Sovereign Award winners A Bit o’ Gold and Millie Girl, breeds a small band of mares in Ontario each year and races as Braconcrest Inc., solely and in partnership. He is on the board of the CTHS (Ontario Division) and avidly supports thoroughbred retirement, visiting and riding his own retirees multiple times weekly.
Glenn Sikura, inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2023, was named Chief Steward of The Jockey Club of Canada in 2018. The Jockey Club of Canada thanks Glenn for his time and dedication to the organization, especially during the difficult years of the COVID-19 pandemic and for leading our 50th anniversary celebrations. Glenn will remain on the Board of Stewards of The Jockey Club of Canada until his term as a Steward officially ends at the 2025 Annual General Meeting.
David Anderson and Sue Leslie have both completed their second three-year term on the Board of Stewards of The Jockey Club of Canada and have stepped down. The Board of Stewards has appointed Mark Krembil and Sherry McLean to succeed them, effective on June 29, 2024. Mark is heavily involved in breeding, ownership, and aftercare through Chiefswood Stables Limited, while Sherry operates the breeding, ownership, consignment, and stud farm, Northern Dawn Stables Inc.
After the appointment of the new Chief Steward, Stewards, and other meeting proceedings, members were treated to a question and answer session between NHL-star turned racing analyst, Eddie Olczyk, and Perry Lefko, co-author of his book, moderated by their own Jim Bannon.