Century Sensation!
ABELIEFINTHISLIVIN wins the $200,000 Canadian Derby while INFINITE PATIENCE takes the $100,000 Northlands Distaff for the second year, capping a magnificent weekend for Hastings trainer Barbara Heads
Saturday proved to be another huge night in Alberta for British Columbia racing as Hastings’ trainer Barbara Heads landed the $200,000 Canadian Derby, completing a remarkable big-race double in the process.
Heads tightened the girth on Peter Redekop’s ABELIEFINTHISLIVIN (Arrogate), who was given a calm and considered ride by Hastings’ leading jockey Amadeo Perez, before unleashing their challenge approaching the far turn. It looked as though the field had given themselves too much to do when allowing long-time leader HEROIC MOVE (Quality Road) to scamper clear but, once Perez asked his horse to get about his work, the pair slowly, but inexorably, reeled in the Manitoba Derby runner-up.
Lengthening his stride down the long Century Mile straight, Abeliefinthislivin was doing his best work late and had too much for his rivals, comfortably holding a 2½-length advantage at the wire and stopping the clock in 2m:03s for the 10-furlong Grade 3 contest.
Fellow Hastings’ raider ACCIDENTAL HERO (Mo Town) did his connections proud, staying on strongly to snatch a well-deserved third place for owners WYN Racing Stables, rider Kimal Santo and trainer Larry Grieve. SUNBIRD (Orb), one of Hastings’ best juveniles last season, didn’t enjoy the clearest of passages under Enrique Gonzalez. The recent BC Cup Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial winner then flattened out after being rousted three or four wide into the final turn and had to settle for fifth for trainer Terry Jordan and owners Pauline Felicella and the Estate of Nick Felicella.
A $70,000 Keeneland September yearling graduate, who was knocked down to agent Alistair Rodin on behalf of Redekop, ABELIEFINTHISLIVIN is by Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Arrogate out of the Pulpit mare, Half A.P., a half-sister to former Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, Halfbridled. The colt raced for California-based trainer Peter Miller before joining Heads only recently and future plans remain fluid.
Less than an hour before the Derby, Heads set the tone for the evening when sending out the valiant INFINITE PATIENCE (Sungold) to take the $100,000 Northlands Distaff for the second consecutive year. The ‘Queen of Hastings’ responded to Antonio Reyes’ urging down the stretch and, in what was the toughest race she’s encountered for some time, needed to call on all her ability to turn back the sustained challenge of longshot ORANGE THEORY (First Dude). At the wire, Bill DeCoursey and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ magnificent racemare was a length clear of the second, with more than three lengths back to the third.
Heads also saddled AT ATTENTION prior to his bid to land a second-consecutive Speed to Spare Stakes. The $100,000 contest was run as the nightcap and the six-year-old warrior again gave everything he had. However, he encountered traffic issues on more than one occasion, with Reyes forced to snatch up slightly at the quarter pole. In the circumstances, Dr Bryan and Carol Anderson’s homebred did well to finish fourth as the race fell to the 2022 Canadian Derby winner, GREAT ESCAPE (Midnight Storm).
AIR FORCE (Counterforce), meanwhile, gave everything she had and just came up short in the $100,000 Century Casino Oaks for trainer Keith Pedersen and owners Dennis Dale, Peter Morris and Ed Welsh. Sent off a short-priced favourite, and looking the most likely winner turning into the straight under Antonio Reyes, the multiple Stakes-winning filly saw them all off bar the impressive JAMIES INHERITENCE (Carpe Diem), whose irresistible stretch drive stopped the clock in 1:51:29 for the nine-furlong contest.
Wyn Racing Corp’s KEY TO SUCCESS (Cupid) saved ground under Kimal Santo and was doing her best work late as she ran-on into fifth place at the finish for trainer Larry Grieve. Meanwhile, the Rob VanOverschot-trained FORCE TO REKN WITH (Counterforce) led them for much of the way but cried enough turning for home and quickly shuffled back through the pack to finish in the rear under Brian Boodramsingh.
Canadian Derby Day couldn’t have begun more perfectly for BC with the first two Thoroughbred races going to horses bred in the province. Both winners were saddled by Anderson Ward. LONESOME CAT (Gotcha Gold) took a six-furlong Starter Allowance contest under N’Rico Prescod before, just 30 minutes later, five-year-old mare WICKED WIZZY (Lent), landed a 6½-furlong maiden claiming event with Da-Sean Gaskin in the irons.
Our sincere congratulations to Barbara Heads and her team, and to everyone who took their charges to Edmonton for a truly landmark Canadian Derby Day.
