Holding Out for a Hero!
Local owner WYN Racing lands the 76th running of the prestigious Grade 3 British Columbia Derby with horse claimed out of Oaklawn Park for $40,000
HIGHLIGHTS
WYN Racing Stable lands the BC Derby
BC Homebred lands the Oaks
Leading rider Amadeo Perez had a riding triple
Brian Boodramsingh enjoyed his first stakes win at Hastings
The handle was a sparkling $1,113,502
A bumper crowd in attendance to see the 76th running of the British Columbia. Fans were rewarded with a largely sunny and warm late summer afternoon. The track remained fast and fair all day.
Race 1.
The first on Derby day went to Brian Albertson’s CARLA'S HONOR ($21.50) who was given a perfect trip by Silvino Morales, saving every inch of ground and running by the tired pacesetter in the stretch to win in 1:17.89 for trainer Cindy Krasner. Willow Creek Farm's NINE OCLOCK CEASAR set a quick contested pace of 21.90 and 45.36 under Amadeo Perez, led the field into the stretch but got reeled in late. Bruce Unwin’s TOBESUNNY was far back early and put in a huge late run under Jose Gomez to finish a fast-closing third.
Claims:
NINE OCLOCK CEASER was claimed by owners Rob & Sheena Maybin for trainer Rob Maybin
TAM TRICKY was claimed by owner Jordan Froelich for trainer Dino Condilenios
Race 2 — Father David Bauer Purse
The second went to Joe and Gloria Russo's MAJESTIC STREET ($4.40), who was afforded the lead through sensible fractions of 22.62 and 46.03, and battled gamely with Kerron Khelawan in the irons to the wire to win by a desperate nose in 1:17.63. Stewart Spencer's KNOPFLER continues to run big races but can’t seem to win a photo. He lost by a nose, giving him his fourth runner-up effort of the season. Don Danard and Mel Snow's DRILLER secured a good spot behind the leaders, stuck some trouble at the top of the lane and ran on late to rescue third money.
Claims:
MAJESTIC STREET was claimed by owners WYN Racing Stable Corp. for trainer Larry Grieve
Race 3 — The Sadie Diamond Futurity Stakes
The third of the day was the $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity for two-year-old fillies and earning her third consecutive Stakes triumph was LIZZIE'S RAYNE ($3.40), who is owned by Renfrew Racing, B and B Racing, Breen Racing, Eugene Chan and Dave Milburn. The homebred daughter of Lent was away well under Amadeo Perez and never gave up her inside position, setting splits of 22.91 and 46.55. The duo remained resolute through the stretch and found the finish line first in 1:19.71 for trainer Dave Milburn. Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds’ EDDIE'S GIRL was given an excellent ride by Kimal Santo, settling on the rail behind the speed then coming off the fence before rallying strongly to be a close second in an impressive debut run. Russ and Lois Bennett's VIVA LA DIVA was equally as good in her first career start as she battled on the pace before tiring late to be third.
Race 4 — Jockey Club of Canada 50th Year Anniversary
The fourth race was won by Deyotte Racing’s TIZ MEOW ($3.70), who was allowed to set a slow early pace of 23.12 and 46.87 under Antonio Reyes and was never challenged, winning easily in 1:18.36 for trainer Ryan Deyotte. Roger Snow and Maurice Doyle's BODEGA showed better speed, which earned him a spot close to the pace and he ran on well to be second. Rob and Sheena Maybin's VALUE MAX ran a much improved race while racing wide in the final turn and ended up third.
Race 5 — Bob Talbot Memorial Race
The fifth of the day saw Canyon Farm's PURSUE ($2.80 ) make no mistake as he looped the field on the stretch turn to win well under Amadeo Perez in 1:44.80 for trainer Craig MacPherson. George and Donna Gilbert’s COUNTERACT opted to settle in the pocket behind the speed and unfortunately struck traffic issues heading to the stretch. Once clear, he was able to just get up to be second. Warren Wilson, Neil Stajkowski, June Sutherland, Ross Switzer and Barry Hickman's BRIAN'S DE LEIGHT, who set a contested pace of 23.67, 47.57 and 1:12.83, won the pace battle but couldn’t hold off the closers and finished a good third.
Race 6 — The Jack Diamond Futurity Stakes
The sixth race was the $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity for two-year-olds going six and a half furlongs and the first time starter WEALTHY TEXAN ($27.00) led the field throughout for owners Len Houwelling and Mel Snow. The son of Texas Wildcatter broke sharply and assumed command, setting fractions of 22.53 and 45.80 started to inch away on the stretch turn and won in the clear under Brian Boodramsingh in 1:17.80 for conditioner Mel Snow. Canyon Farm's VECTOR wasn’t as fast as the winner early and was a little rank behind runners before finally settling as they went down the backstretch and running up the rail to be a clear second. JDP Holdings’ NORTHERN FORCE was up close early, before following VECTOR on the inside and running on to be third.
Race 7 — The British Columbia Oaks
The $75,000 B.C. Oaks for three-year-old fillies at a mile and an eighth went to Canmor Farm's ABOVE AVERAGE ($15.80), who broke brilliantly under Amadeo Perez, securing a perfect position on the outside of AIR FORCE. Those two raced together through easy splits of 23.11, 47.48 and 1:12.63 before ABOVE AVERAGE edged away late to get the victory for trainer Mark Cloutier in 1:51.45. Dennis Dale and Ed Welsh's AIR FORCE ran another huge race, setting the tempo and stayed game until the sixteenth pole when she started to give ground. She was checked briefly, resulting in an enquiry which the stewards looked at but dismissed. Renfrew Racing, B and B Racing, No Trump Stable Matt Elder and Bill Breen's MATSQUI turned in her usual gritty performance, racing closer to the early pace than usual before saving all the ground and checking in third under Silvino Morales for trainer Mark Freeman.
Race 8 — The British Columbia Derby (G3)
The $125,000 B.C. Derby went to WYN Racing Stable’s ACCIDENTAL HERO ($4.40) who was sharp away from the gate and assumed an excellent spot through the opening stages. Rider Kimal Santo was content to stalk a couple of lengths back and, when he pushed the button approaching the far turn, his mount responded with a quick turn of foot to engage SUNBIRD and they waged a fierce battle to the wire with the Larry Grieve trainee just getting up in deep stretch to win in 1:50.05. Estate of Nick Felicella and Pauline Felicella's SUNBIRD lost nothing in defeat for trainer Terry Jordan as he sat on comfortable splits of 23.18, 47.54 and 1:12.64. When asked by Antonio Reyes, he sprinted to the wire but was simply outrun by ACCIDENTAL HERO. Roger Snow, Don Danard and Conrad Rozenek's SPACE was in a good striking position but could not stay with the top two as they ran away from him at the quarter-pole, but he easily held third money.
Bloodstock Note:
ACCIDENTAL HERO is by former Hollywood Derby (G1) winner MO TOWN (Uncle Mo) out of the Stakes-placed Chatain mare, PARDONMECOMINGTHRU. He was a $65k Fasig-Tipton July select yearling in 2021 who was subsequently knocked down to West Point Thoroughbreds for $260,000 at the following year’s OCALA March Two-Year-Olds-in-Training Sale. Out of the winning GULCH mare, BRIDA TEA, the winner’s dam is half-sister to Stakes winners POSTPONED and BRIDESMADE, as well as the unraced mare CUERO, dam of Hastings’ Stakes winner, BEAR (Super Saver). Accidental Hero’s third dam is multiple Graded-Stakes winner CHAPEL OF DREAMS (Northern Dancer), a three-parts sister to legendary sire, STORM CAT — N Reid.
Race 9.
The last of the day was won by Lorie Henson, Helen Klimes and Sharon Pring's QUAGMIRE ($4.40), who was in a fight with VALUABLE COWBOY from the start (22.32, 45.51). They raced nose-to-nose the entire six-and-half-furlong trip but QUAGMIRE was resurgent late under Fraser Aebly and got up for the win in 1:17.69 for trainer Steve Henson. Stan Sharma's VALUABLE COWBOY was nothing short of sensational, but couldn’t quite get by the winner under Silvino Morales, settling for second for trainer Brian O'Connell. BFA Holdings WISE MARKET watched the top two battle in front of him and tried to make a run but get to them and ended up third.
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Sunday September 17
Racing resumes today, Sunday, with a seven race program. First race: 2pm
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