Hastings' Weekly Winter Round-Up
There are some big reputations on the line in New Mexico next week as leading Hastings' owner Peter Redekop sends his top three-year-olds AUGUST RAIN and AVANA to Zia Park
In a typically bold move, leading Hastings’ owner Peter Redekop takes his pair of star three-year-olds out on the road next week as part of a small, but select, team heading to New Mexico for the $1.1 million Land of Enchantment Day at Zia Park.
AVANA (Vino Rosso), winner of last season’s BC Oaks and Century Casino Oaks, in a campaign mapped out by trainer Barbara Heads that saw the sensational filly win all six of her races, goes in the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks over a mile-and-sixteenth. She faces ten rivals, including the Kenny McPeek-trained morning-line favourite, V V’s DREAM (Mitole) — last seen finishing a rallying fourth in the Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland in October.
Running out of the Blaine Wright barn, AVANA, who was bred in BC by Bryan and Carol Anderson, will be ridden by regular partner Amadeo Perez. She will be joined in the race by ARCTIC BREEZE (Arrogate), Redekop’s Pleasanton and Emerald Downs Stakes winner who made quite the impact at Golden Gate back in January when winning her Maiden Special by almost 10-lengths.
Half-an-hour later, Redekop’s homebred Canadian Derby and BC Derby winner AUGUST RAIN (Sungold) faces nine rivals in the $300,000 Zia Park Derby, which is also run over eight-and-a-half furlongs. Like his stablemate Avana, August Rain also runs out of the Blaine Wright barn and will be partnered by regular pilot, Amadeo Perez.
The diminutive gelding with a big engine was handled consummately by Barbara Heads for a Vancouver campaign that saw him land the Ross McLeod Stakes and Chris Loseth Handicap, as well as finish an unlucky third in the BC Cup Churchill Derby Trial Stakes.
Redekop’s powerful quartet is rounded out by the four-year-old ABELIEFINTHISLIVIN. Also trained by Wright, the son of Arrogate takes on five rivals in the $100,000 Zia Park Sprint Stakes and will be making his first start since winning the 2023 Canadian Derby at Century Mile. Bill Antongeorgi takes the ride and the pair face a strong field, including West Point Thoroughbreds' odds-on morning-line favourite, JAXON TRAVELER (Munnings), winner of the Grade 3 Whitmore Stakes at Oaklawn last March and, more recently, the victor in September’s David M Vance Stakes at Remington Park for trainer Steve Asmussen.
You can see all the runners and riders by clicking the link below.
Vancouver Connections
Peter Redekop is not the only familiar local name to cheer on in the coming days. SIGIRIYA (Mendelssohn) makes her third start for Hastings’ owner and new HBPA board member Jordan Froelich at Woodbine on Friday while, down at Turf Paradise today (Thursday), Mark Freeman’s Hastings winner MISS ACCELERATE (Accelerate) takes on the BC-bred Hastings winner LOVEABOVEANDBEYOND (Counterforce) in a $4,000 claiming contest. Nancy Betts will be tightening the cinch, with Leslie Mawing in the plate.
In addition, Hastings’ warhorse FORT LANGLEY (Majestic Warrior), who is owned in partnership by Jordan Froelich and trainer Jaymie Pearman Cruz, is entered at Turf Paradise next Tuesday.
Finally, we have been made aware by an eagle-eyed Hastings’ Racing Club member that Fort Langley’s half-sister, the Glen Todd-bred and former Racing Club stalwart HOLLYWOOD MISTRESS (Americain), has won her last two starts in California — most recently a starter allowance contest at Pleasanton earlier this month.
Old Forester 2001-2024
The remarkable chestnut stallion (Forestry-Halo River- Irish River) will leave a lasting legacy on the Ontario breeding industry.
By: Westmeath Stud Press Release | November 18, 2024
Passing peacefully in his 23rd year at his home farm of John Carey’s TC Westmeath Stud in Mulmur, Ontario on Nov 17, 2024, Old Forester leaves a remarkable legacy.
As a racehorse, Old Forester earned $461,080 and set a new track record in 2005 at Gulfstream Park running 8 ½ f. in 1:38.2. He was a three-time stakes winner including the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger S. and placed in multiple graded stakes. He was a half-brother to champion Catch a Glimpse.
Old Forester entered his stud career in 2007 and bred 949 mares in his 17 years at stud (including pregnancies of 2024), all at TC Westmeath Farm under the care of John Carey and family. Old Forester was a constant in the ever-changing Ontario breeding scene.
He was an immediate hit with Ontario breeders, as he was a dependable source of speed and precocity.
Old Forester was the leading sire in Canada five times, in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017.
He will be remembered for his incredible production of offspring that raced and gave their all at the track, most notably Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee of 2017, PINK LLOYD.
Pink Lloyd was a phenomenon and a crowd favourite, racing six years in Canada commencing in 2016. Pink Lloyd (2012 by Old Forester- Gladiator Queen- Great Gladiator) earned $2,455,430, won an incredible 26 stakes races including three Grade 2s and nine Grade 3s. He was in the money in 34 of his 38 starts. He was Canadian Champion male sprinter from 2017-2021, Champion Older Horse twice, as well as Canadian Horse of the Year in 2017.
As a sire, Old Forester’s offspring have earned over $35,000,000 to date and won almost 1,100 races. As a broodmare sire, Old Forester mares have produced offspring with earnings of $5,465,180.
His impact on the Ontario breeding industry will be long-lasting.
HBPA News
Going forward, HBPA members we plan to publish bulllet points of board meetings to enable members to better see the issues facing us all.
November 5, 2024 – all elected Board members present, except Tara Neigel (moved) plus 3 of 4 newly elected Board members who will take office after the November 21 AGM
The Board acknowledged the recent passing of Dairen Edwards (Owner and most recent CTHS BC President) and Darlene Smith (Owner and friend to all especially backstretch personnel) with a minute of silence.
Election Update – David congratulated the elected Board members and thanked those who are leaving the Board for their service. The newly elected Board members who were attending were invited to comment on matters but would not be in a voting position until after the AGM.
AGM – previous meeting minutes were approved by the Board and final AGM planning decisions were made. To allow for fuller participation by members, the use of a virtual AGM on Thursday November 21 will be used as was done during Covid. While in-person meetings may be preferred, it was decided that they made more sense during the Meet and so the Spring 2025 meeting would be in person prior to the start of the 2025 meet with another full update to members.
New Board - The first Board meeting with the newly elected Board was also set as November 30 (later revised to be December 7 to accommodate more participants) and would be held in-person at the track.
2025 Race Dates – Race dates were discussed as feedback/options had been received from GCGC and GPEB has required a direction by the end of November. The Board agreed that a 45-day Meet should be put forward. The issue of funding was raised and the Board realized that funding for a full Meet would be subject to success in the government lobby. There was a discussion about Monday’s added back during the PNE (one was dark in 2024) and it was agreed to keep it. Final negotiations will be handled by Gary in an arranged meeting that will include GCGC representatives and BCTOBA rep Ole Nielsen. The Board approved the template of race days provided by Gary to bring to the negotiations.
Backstretch Matters – Neil had included the issue of the rat outbreak at the 2024 Meet as a matter for discussion. The Board discussed and agreed that strong pressure needed to bring to bear to GCGC to better manage the matter. It was agreed that there would be a meeting at the track during the off season with GCGC to discuss that will include Neil, Steve Henson and John Snow.
2025 Incentives – The Board discussed communication to members of both the Fresh Horse and Wintering Incentive with an emphasis on sending a notice to members as soon as possible and by the AGM at the latest. David said he would bring the results of the resolution to the TRBC committee for further discussion.
New Stride News
