Diocles the Governor!
He's been threatening to win a big one for a while and it all came together for Diocles in the Lieutenant Governors' on a Canada Day that also saw the brilliant Avana land the Monashee Stakes in style
HIGHLIGHTS
Amadeo Perez had a huge day, winning four races.
Kerron Khelawan rode a double on the afternoon.
Five of the day’s six winners, including both Stakes races, went to horses bred in British Columbia
The Pick 5 paid a handsome $2,011.05 and the Jackpot Pick 5 carryover now sits at $119,683.
The handle was an impressive $735,840.
Fun in the Sun — Canada Day, 2025
Canada Day Round-Up by Mike Heads
Race 1.
The first race on Canada Day went to White Hall Farms’ PETERSON LANDING ($6.70), who was content to trail early under Amadeo Perez before picking off runners approaching the stretch and barely finding the line first in 1:17.72 for trainer Keith Pedersen. Rob and Sheena Maybin's WEEKENDINDELMAR was sharp early but hung three-wide while in reserve, edged over to the two path entering the backside, took the lead into the lane with Richard Balgobin aboard and was game right to the finish, ending up a good second for Rob Maybin. Randy Lane and Roy Nelson's ISLAND LIVING was prominent early, racing on a contested pace (22.92, 46.07) with Kimal Santo at the controls, and they stayed close until the stretch before yielding late to finish third for Cindy Krasner.
Race 2.
The second of the afternoon saw Rob and Vicky Gilker's Y VEE R ($10.30) break alertly and assume a good position on the outside of the speed (22.55, 46.44) under Kerron Khelawan. They started to inch away on the final turn and held bravely to the wire for the victory in 1:16.28 for trainer Rob Gilker. Mike D'Addabbo’s KNOPFLER was situated perfectly behind the speed under Silvino Morales, made a nice run on the stretch turn to threaten the winner, but just couldn’t get by and ended up a good runner-up for trainer Dino Condilenios. Harold and Sandra Barroby's JERSEYS IMAGE was on the front end for the opening three furlongs under Richard Balgobin, lost some ground on the turn but stayed valiantly in the stretch to be third at 30-1 for veteran conditioner Harold Barroby.
Race 3.
The third race was won by Brad Henson, Randy Henson, Dan Henson and Trevor Irwin's BARNEY GOOGLE ($11.50), who was far back behind the slow pace and still managed to pass them all to get the win in 1:46.85 for Steve Henson. Sasquatch Stables’ SOMETHING ELUSIVE was in close attendance to the pace (24.86, 50.56, 1:16.04) under Antonio Reyes, took the lead turning for home and just missed in a tight photo, finishing an unlucky second for trainer Jim Smith. Saundra Chipman's THERE GOES MY HERO was in behind the speed.Then, when the running started on the stretch turn, Kimal Santo found a seam on the rail to briefly hit the top but couldn’t maintain his advantage and ended up a close third for trainer Keith Pedersen.
Claims:
THERE GOES MY HERO was claimed by owner Jo-Anne McDonald for trainer Steve Henson
Race 4 — The $50,000 Monashee Handicap Stakes
The fourth race on the program was the $50,000 Monashee Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth and proving best was Peter Redekop's AVANA ($2.60), who was given her usual tall task as she drifted back well behind the leaders under regular pilot Amadeo Perez before launching her dynamic late turn of foot to run by at the top of the stretch, stopping the timer in 1:42.53 for trainer Barbara Heads. Swift Thoroughbreds’ BUNNY was patiently handled by Kimal Santo, settling behind a contested pace (24.34, 47.56, 1:11.73), was sent up three-wide to engage the leaders on the final turn. She was quickly passed by the winner inside the eighth-pole but easily held second for trainer Dino Condilenios. Dennis Dale, Morris Peter and Ed Welsh's AIR FORCE set a contested tempo under Antonio Reyes, stayed strong until the stretch and tired late, ending up a good third for trainer Keith Pedersen.
Race 5 — $50,000 Lieutenant Governors’ Handicap Stakes
The fifth race was the $50,000 Lieutenant Governors for three year olds and up going a mile and a sixteenth. And, in a mild surprise, Wil-a-Way Farms, Gail Jewsbury and Pat Jarvis’ DIOCLES ($15.80), who was relaxed beautifully by Kerron Khelawan behind the speed, produced a sharp four-wide move on the backside to get in contention, before proving best in the stretch to get the victory in 1:42.62 for trainer Pat Jarvis. Peter Redekop's AUGUST RAIN was away without mishap under Amadeo Perez and they began to move up on the backstretch in unison with DIOCLES, racing with that rival until the sixteenth pole, but began to gradually lose ground late and had to settle for the runner-up spot in a good effort for trainer Barbara Heads. Dave and Sylvea Gregory's SOARINGFORTHESUN challenged BOLD ARCH for the front end, passing the stands for the first time and set quick interior splits (24.04, 46.42, 1:10.76), lost the lead at the quarter-pole but stayed well to be third for trainer Sylvea Gregory.
Race 6.
The sixth race went to Dreamtime Stable, RKR Racing and Nancy Betts THOMPSON ($7.30), who was held back early by Amadeo Perez while losing ground around the turns, but it didn’t matter as they flew late to win in a sharp 1:44.49 for trainer Nancy Betts. Canyon Farm's VECTOR broke well and set a sensible early tempo (24.51, 48.75, 1:13.71) under Kimal Santo, held the lead until the sixteenth pole where he was passed, but easily held second for trainer Craig MacPherson. Minnaloushe Stables and Dave Milburn's SLOOP JOHN B was reserved early by Learie Seecharan. Sitting in a nice tracking spot, they moved up to challenge VECTOR and pressed him to the stretch and ran well to be third for trainer Dave Milburn.
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Wednesday, July 2
 |
|