Derby Day Previews
Derby Day Previews
All the runners and riders for the 77th edition of the $125,000 British Columbia Derby, as well as a top-class supporting card that includes the $75,000 Oaks and two $100,000 Futurity races
THIS looks like a good opportunity for MAKENA’S JOY to get off the mark. He rallied well from some way behind Mount Doom in last month’s CTHS Sales Stakes, in what were very wet conditions, and a repeat of that standard should put him close here. ZENARI ran well enough on her debut to suggest she can get a little closer this time, while stablemate ANSTRUTHER never looked happy on the wet surface most recently and should be a different proposition this time. Although making his career debut, BROOKLAND is the only other male in the race and is a half-brother to Stakes-placed performer, Betterthanaboyfriend, as well as several other winners. He’s had plenty of work in the mornings and it wouldn’t be the biggest shock to see him win at the first time of asking in what may not be the toughest maiden.
ASKMENOQUESTIONS is back to 6½ furlongs for the first time since pulverizing a similar field (which included DON W and BETTER TONE) over the same distance in July. In the interim he’s run perfectly well over the long course and looks the main danger here. STANFORD NORTH drops on to the bottom rung after a good third against marginally tougher company last time. He’s normally the definition of consistent and shouldn’t be far away again.
PENALTY TO RANGERS lines up here on a hat-trick following two gate-to-wire wins in similar contests. Whether she is able to dictate proceedings in similar fashion will depend on whether DRILL BABY DRILL, VALERIE VALESKI or STAR FINALITY, who have all shown early speed, also find themselves at the head of affairs. TEXAS LEGACY is normally given a stalking role and could benefit from any front-end excess.
MOUNT DOOM, who is probably the best juvenile we’ve seen so far this season at Hastings, will have all he can handle today with fellow BC-bred, but Alberta-based, PUTTINGONTHEFOIL. The son of Counterforce, who was mightily impressive when quickening past Hastings’ shipper Pioneer Storm King to take the Canadian Juvenile Stakes at Century Mile on Derby weekend, is a half-brother to Champion Herbie D and looks well up to the standard produced by mum. COUNTER CAT and RONDELITO both made their racing debuts on a sloppy track (and in Stakes company) and both should be very different propositions today, while CHICK COMMAND kept-on well behind Mount Doom in the same race and should again make his presence felt. KRIS’S GOLD and WHO IS both make their racing debuts.
Unbeaten in three starts, BREEZIN BRIANNE looks to tighten her grip on the juvenile fillies’ division. She’s already beaten SOMEDAY LADY and WHY NOTS A WYNNER each time they’ve met, although both those rivals are still progressing and will have something to say about where the purse goes today. ANOTHER LAST DANCE is also going the right way. She scooted clear of her rivals over the 3½-furlong course last time and it will be interesting to see how she handles her first attempt at 6½ furlongs. DAZZLE ME DAWN, a daughter of the rapid Daz Lin Dawn, ships in from Century Mile after recovering from a poor start to finish fifth on her debut in the Princess Margaret Stakes. She should be a bigger threat today after that experience.
SHOCK THE HOUSE (Sungold) — Made the pace and ran the smart LUCKY FORCE close in the slop last time. Lightly-raced and still improving but will need to step-up again to feature here.
AUGUST RAIN (Sungold) — Arrived late on the scene, and in some style, after overcoming early trouble in last month’s Canadian Derby. He’ll need clear passage, but has been impressive all season and is the one to beat.
CLASSY CITY (Classic Empire) — Imported from Golden Gate and an impressive winner of two Century Mile stakes contests, he was well beaten by August Rain in the Canadian Derby and was fourth in the Chris Loseth Stakes on his only other run at Hastings.
DIOCLES (Counterforce) — Among the best of the Hastings’ sophomores, he was all at sea on the slop last time and is better judged on his Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial victory, where he beat WHAT’S SHAKIN and AUGUST RAIN
WHAT’S SHAKIN (Ralis) — Unraced at two, has improved with racing this season and remains on the upward curve, despite a fourth-place finish in the mud last time.
WESTMINSTER (Bolt d’Oro) — Not far off the best of the 3yo crop at Hastings, he’s been close to landing a big prize without quite getting the job done. Any improvement on what is just his sixth career start would put him firmly in the mix.
LORD OF BATTLE (Mastery) — Well beaten by AUGUST RAIN and company in the Canadian Derby. Just his third career start here and hard to make a case on any racetrack evidence.
TOUGHERTHANTHEREST (Take Charge Indy) — Kept-on well after setting the pace and relinquishing the lead late in last month’s Muckleshoot Derby at Emerald Downs. Could be a handful if allowed too much rope.
HORATIO (Mendelssohn) — A facile maiden winner over 6½ furlongs in August, he was then beaten next time-up in claiming company. Hard to make a case on this year’s form but did butt heads with several of these as a juvenile and wasn’t outclassed.
MONEYSHOT (Frosted) — A gate-to-wire winner over WESTMINSTER last time, he’s been just a little outside the top group all season, but wasn’t beaten far in the Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial after taking them to the top of the stretch.
J DUTTON (Smiling Tiger) — Beaten only a half-length when fourth in the Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial, he was keeping-on well and had all-bar AUGUST RAIN covered when runner-up in the 10-furlong Canadian Derby. A classy, long-striding runner, it remains to be seen whether he can be as effective around the tight turns of Hastings.
SKIPPER’S PRIDE (Klimt) — Failed to land a blow and ran as if something amiss in last month’s Canadian Derby. Was third in the Count Lathum Handicap at Century Mile in July. He’ll need to improve on that to feature here.
VIVA LA DIVA (Sungold) — Usually close to the speed, she led them most of the way in July’s Supernaturel Handicap, giving way to AVANA only late. A less heralded barn-mate of the favourite, she remains a top-class performer in her own right and has solid place and show claims again.
EYES OF BEAUTY (Lent) — Will need to run the best race of her career by some way to feature, but shouldn’t be totally overlooked after missing the break and spotting her field at least 20 lengths before eating up ground late to finish third in a claiming contest last time. She should relish the extra yardage.
SIGNORA VITTORIA (Bernardini) — Ridden like a non-stayer and making up lots of ground from the rear to pass all bar the winner, she was arguably an unlucky loser of last month’s Washington Oaks and could be a big threat; especially now connections know she will handle the distance just fine.
BABY I’M A STAR (Om) — A longshot Maiden Optional winner last month in the slop, she only made her season debut in July and is clearly moving in the right direction. Will need to step-up again.
AVANA (Vino Rosso) — Unbeaten in five starts this season, she was simply sensational in last month’s Century Mile Oaks, overcoming a stumble to win ‘geared down’ by Amadeo Perez. She’s looked a class apart all season and, if sufficiently recovered from her Edmonton exploits, is clearly the one to beat again today.
DREAMING D’ORO (Always Dreaming) — Has looked a different proposition since breaking her maiden in July and ran arguably the race of her short career to finish third to the year-older pair, AIR FORCE and MATSQUI, in the recent CTHS Sales Stakes (in sloppy conditions). She’ll need another ‘lifetime best’ but is going the right way.
BROOKE MAGIC (Honor Code) — Not far from the best of her generation at Hastings, she would almost certainly have been placed behind Avana in last month’s Century Mile Oaks if she had not had the door slammed when looking to challenge. Shouldn’t be far away again here with a clear passage.
SHE’S KIND OF HOT takes on maiden company as a ‘winner’ here after being disqualified from first place last time. A repeat of that effort may be good enough to get her off the mark at the seventh attempt. Barn-mate I’M SEEING RED steps back down in distance after an unsuccessful effort over longer. Prior to that, he wasn’t too far away when fifth over today’s distance in what looked a tougher contest than he faces here. MAX BOOSTER has been knocking on the door and had ANDALEIGH behind last time, while FEBRUARY, who split Lizzie’s Rayne and Donna Wyn on her sole outing as a juvenile, can probably be forgiven her effort on the slop last time and should be more of a factor today.
Lisa & Mike’s Saturday Selections
Statistics
Come Celebrate “Brownie Day”
Remembering “Brownie”
The backstretch came together to celebrate the life of Gerry 'Brownie' Brownell last Sunday and honour their friend and colleague who passed away earlier this year. There were plenty of faces old and new on hand to remember their friend over a very tasty bowl of chilli and a wide assortment of food and drinks
Winter Quarters at Pacific North Stables
Finding somewhere to winter your horse will be a little easier this year, following news that trainer Peter Gregory, along with daughter Kelsi Wellard (above), have leased a large, multi-purpose equestrian facility in Delta.
PACIFIC NORTH STABLES (6003 104 Street, Delta), has 75 stalls, a large indoor riding arena and turnout paddocks of varying sizes; the larger of which are on a riversand base.
Kelsi also reports that there will be indoor and outdoor areas for breaking youngsters and they will also foal-out mares at the facility where horses will be turned out during the day and brought in each evening.
Anyone interested in finding out more can pop along and see Kelsi in Barn A, or make contact in the first instance via email: Kelsiwellard@hotmail.com or through Instagram at pacific_north_stables
