Heads' Team Takes Two
Both of Saturday's $50,000 Stakes contests went to the Peter Redekop, Barbara Heads, Amadeo Perez team, with last season's leading rider notching an impressive four-timer on the day
HIGHLIGHTS
Amadeo Perez had four wins, including two Stakes victories
Kimal Santo had a riding double
Trainer Barbara Heads & Owner Peter Redekop took both stakes races
All seven races went to horses bred in B.C.
The handle was $480,887
More mixed messages on the weather front Saturday, as a morning that included hail gave way to cloud, unseasonably cool temperatures and the occasional glimpse of sunshine. Fortunately, the forecast deluge missed the East Van oval, leaving the track fast and fair all afternoon
Race 1.
The first race on the Saturday program saw the heavily favoured BAK TO LIBERTY ($2.90) win as expected under Amadeo Perez in decisive fashion in 1:17.94. The son of Bakken owned by Kim and Jesse Morrison settled just off of a contested pace then blew by the leaders midway on the final turn and finished well clear of the rest for trainer Jesse Morrison. G.O. Stables and Alexa Ramirez's GROOVIN IS BAK was void of early speed and despite some trouble at the top of the stretch Bebeto Harvey was able to split horses and get up for the runner-up spot for trainer Erick Gutierrez. TC Racing's EXTRA INNINGS showed tenacity early battling for the lead under Antonio Reyes through quick fractions (22.23, 45.56) and got a little tired late but held third money for trainer Rob Gilker.
Claims:
BAK TO LIBERTY was claimed by owners Rob & Sheena Maybin for trainer Rob Maybin
Race 2.
The second of the day went to Ed Claggett's LUCKY FORCE ($4.50), who was well held behind a contested pace by Amadeo Perez, before sprinting to the lead on the stretch turn and drawing clear to an easy win for Craig MacPherson. Don Tetarenko’s JUST JIMMY was also relaxed in behind the speed, with Kerron Khelawan aboard, and they closed up sharply to complete a Craig MacPherson Exactor. George Gilbert's SMART LAD got caught up in a speed duel (22.42, 46.07) with Antonio Reyes up and they tried to fight on but had to settle for third for conditioner Barbara Heads.
Race 3.
The third race was won by WYN Racing Stables’ DONNA WYN ($11.30) who settled just off of the pace under Kimal Santo then rallied four wide and easily breezed by her rivals to earn her first career win in 1:18.66 for trainer Larry Grieve. Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds EDDIE'S GIRL was prominent early, setting splits of 22.60 and 46.23, and stayed on well to be second under Silvino Morales for trainer Edgar Mendoza. Richard Hunter's WEEKENDINDELMAR was off two lengths slow under Amadeo Perez, then scooted up the inside to get near the lead and tipped out three wide in the lane to challenge but was bounced around at the eighth-pole, causing her to be third for trainer Edgar Mendoza.
Race 4.
The fourth race of the afternoon went to Dave and Sylvea Gregory's QUATRE BAK ($4.80) who sat a nice trip on the rail under Kimal Santo, then, when asked on the final bend, responded with a game effort of the wire to win by a nose in 1:18.50 for conditioner Edgar Mendoza. Peter Redekop's ATTAIN was content to relax far off the pace with Amadeo Perez at the controls and started to creep up on the backside while making a sustained three-wide run and just missed by the narrowest of margins in a good debut effort for trainer Barbara Heads. Swift Thoroughbreds’ HORATIO raced much of the trip in between runners, with Silvino Morales up, and showed good courage to stay on to be a close third for trainer Dino Condilenios.
Race 5 — The River Rock Casino.
The fifth of the day was the $50,000 River Rock Casino Stakes for three-year-old fillies going six-and-a-half furlongs and proving best was Peter Redekop's AVANA ($3.50), who showed a brilliant turn of foot, going from last to first and looping the field before the stretch and cruising to a big victory in a quick time of 1:17.68 over the dull, fast track for trainer Barbara Heads. SSRG Racing's LONIE MO was happy to sit far away from the quick tempo under Chris Mamdeen before making a solid move to gain the runner-up spot for trainer Rob Maybin. Russ and Lois Bennett's VIVA LA DIVA was caught up in a quick duel (22.12, 46.10) with Antonio Reyes up and stayed on determinedly to be third for Barbara Heads.
Race 6 — The Ross McLeod Stakes.
The sixth race was the $50,000 Ross McLeod Stakes for three-year-olds at six-and-a-half furlongs and getting back into the winner’s circle was Peter Redekop's AUGUST RAIN ($6.60), who was content to settle three-wide close to a slow early cadence and, when Amadeo Perez asked him to quicken, responded immediately to gain command at the top of the lane, drawing clear late to win in a very swift 1:16.74 for trainer Barbara Heads. Eighteen Acres and Mel Snow's WEALTHY TEXAN as usual set all the early fractions (22.94 and 46.52) under Brian Boodramsingh but couldn’t hold off the winner and finished a solid second for trainer Mel Snow. Canyon Farm's VECTOR was positioned just off the speed under Antonio Reyes but was compromised being in between runners and, after losing a spot into the lane, did well to regain third money.
Race 7.
The seventh race saw John Snow, Darryl and Kristy Hammond’s TEXAS LEGACY ($11.50) turn in a huge performance for her connections, battling three-wide with Bebeto Harvey up and just lasting home for the win in 1:18.86 for trainer John Snow — giving the daughter of Texas Wildcatter back-to-back scores in the process. Maureen Byrne's STRIKING VALUE was nice and comfortable early at the back of the pack under Antonio Reyes, then put in a big late run to just miss for trainer Frank Barroby. WYN Racing Stables’ DRILL BABY DRILL was close to the pace (22.71, 46.59) on the inside under Kimal Santo, which ended up not being the pace to be and she still dug-in to be a close third for trainer Larry Grieve.
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Sunday, June 16
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