Marathon Day Preview
A competitive Sunday card includes the second Marathon race of the season and the popular test of stamina has attracted a quality field of runners, including hat-trick-seeking stayer, Erlich
HE’S A SAINT had today’s rivals STANFORD NORTH and BARBERRY BANDIT behind when chasing home Military Cross last time. He’s hit the board three times in five outings this term and can’t be far away from his first career win. ‘Bandit’ split Magic Road and subsequent winner Somthing Elusive the time before that to claim his third runner-up spot of the season and he’s impossible to leave out. Stablemate MAX BOOSTER hopped at the start last time and trailed home behind He's a Saint and co. However, he’s had just the two career outings so far and, while he needs to show more, may have more improvement in him than some of his more exposed opponents.
CROWN COUNCIL was less than a length behind Brian’s de Leight when the two put on a private match-race last time; both pulling well away from their rivals early and stretching their advantage throughout. He returns to 6½ furlongs here following that excellent effort over the mile-and-sixteenth course and, if his close second to An Army of Light in July is anything to go by, seems equally suited by it. DESIRED OUTCOME has filled the runner-up spot in his three previous starts and he also drops back to sprinting after chasing home Buzzinga Karma when an odds-on favourite last time. A repeat of his second to Space or, before that, Wicked Night, should make him hard to beat. BC CHU CHU has been consistent all year and can’t be far from her first win, while ANDALEIGH’s third behind Dreamb and Buzzinga Karma suggests he is in the mix here, as well.
These six entries have 170 runs at Hastings between them and 34 wins. Together, they represent some of the toughest war horses still in action and all are capable of landing this on their day. DYNAMITER is the least experienced runner here but had JUST MAKE BELIEVE back in third when skipping clear in a gate-to-wire win in a similar event last time and apprentice Fraser Aebly retains the ride. He looks the one they have to beat. FRANKIE MACHINE makes a quick reappearance and just his second start of the campaign after having a jog round on his season debut last weekend. That was over the 6½ furlongs and he’s a completely different proposition over today’s distance.
MILITARY CROSS put more than five lengths on his rivals when sauntering to a gate-to-wire win last time on just his second start of the season. He enjoyed an easy lead but couldn’t have been more impressive and, while this is a tougher contest, he is clearly going the right way and should be a major player. BAK TO LIBERTY drops back to sprinting after mixed fortunes over the 8½-furlong course. He’s been banging his head against the best around for two seasons and this may be a little less demanding, especially if he can repeat his July win over Azov Sea. California import AN ARMY OF LIGHT drops significantly in class here after breaking his maiden with a gate-to-wire performance last time. Prior to that, he’d been mixing it at Santa Anita and Del Mar and he looks the class in the race.
Most of these have had plenty of opportunities to break their maiden and it may pay to go with the less exposed DIVAANY, who lines up for just the third time in his career. A repeat of his second-place finish to Somthing Elusive (who won again subsequently), with rival SHOWMAN behind, would put him at the heart of things in a heat that might not take too much winning. DAPPER DON is getting closer with each effort and his neck second to Milo’s Command last time, with STOLO SPIRIT close behind, suggests it won’t be too long before he finally bags one of these. Connections have adjusted their sights with CAIRO CRUSADER and he drops in here for some class relief. He was beaten a long way by Military Cross and co last time, but this looks like shallower water and a repeat anywhere close to July’s third behind An Army of Light would make him a big threat.
STAY FANTASTIC rattled off two wins in similar company over this distance in July, beating WISELY PLAYED both times before then running a clunker behind that rival and winner Stormy Blue in his most recent start. Bettors will need forgiveness in their hearts to ignore that anomaly, but he was never really going that day and he’s the one they’ll have to beat again if he’s back to anywhere near his best. The lightly-raced BUZZINGA KARMA pulled Fraser Aebly to the front with more than a circuit left last time and needed only to be shaken up by his rider to see off his rivals. This will be a tougher battle but there was much to like about that performance and he’s clearly progressing. Although he appeared unlikely to win, FOREIGN PROTOCOL was plugging on gamely enough behind Aquitania Arrival last time to suggest he may enjoy this first attempt at the mile-and-sixteenth course.
The second of the year’s popular marathon events has attracted a competitive field, headed by ERLICH, who goes for a hat-trick following back-to-back victories. He was only getting going late over 9 furlongs last time when beating Broke an Broken and he looks tailor-made for this mile-and-three-eighths stamina test. MAKEITORBREAKIT became embroiled in a rough, front-end duel last time when disappointing behind Erlich but, prior to that, put almost five lengths on GORKY PARK over today’s distance and beat LAUGH WITH ME the time before. Hard not to see him playing a major role again today. FORT LANGLEY has never run over this distance but he’s a perennial closer and, if his stamina can be eked out by Silvino Morales, the veteran has the class to be a factor.
Sunday’s Picks
They turned to horses in grief and now they own the B.C. Derby champion
“Now I understand why Mom loved the horses as much as she did,” said Tasha Ceraldi, whose Accidental Hero won the B.C. Derby.
Randy Goulding • Special to Postmedia
Despite just five horses in the field, last Saturday’s B.C. Derby was a thriller with Accidental Hero and Sunbird engaging in a stretch-long duel.
Without a betting interest in the race, it was hard to know which horse to root for.
Sunbird is owned by Pauline Felicella and the estate of her late husband, Nick Felicella. The Felicellas have been huge supporters of the horse-racing industry in B.C. and the best horse they owned, Spaghetti Mouse, was a fan favourite.
Accidental Hero, who had a perfect trip under Kimal Santo, won the 1 1/8 miles classic by a head for trainer Larry Grieve.
The Kentucky-bred colt by Mo Town is owned by Chris and Tasha Ceraldi, who claimed him for $40,000 out of a winning race at Oaklawn Park on May 5. They race under the stable name, WYN Racing Stables Corp. The stable is named in honour of Tasha’s mother, Donna, whose middle name was Wyn.
The Ceraldis are relatively new to the game as owners, and they have brought a breath of fresh air to the industry. It is impossible to find anyone more enthusiastic about horse racing.
They were both exposed to horse racing as children by their parents, but never really got involved until last year when they jumped in with both feet. In just two years, the Ceraldis have won the most important race in B.C., the Derby, and in 2022 they won the B.C. Oaks with Kloepatra, who was voted the champion three-year-old filly in the province.
“We kind of got away from it because we were young parents with a family to raise,” said Chris.
“We would drop down for the big races with my mom, though,” added Tasha.
When Donna died from cancer last year, Chris asked Tasha if she would be interested in buying a horse in her honour. Donna was Grieve’s sister.
The idea was to buy one horse, but they ended up with four, including Kloepatra.
“We didn’t know anything about what being owners entailed,” said Tasha. “We just kind of immersed ourselves in it, and for myself personally, I feel like it was a lot of healing. Mom loved the horses so much and just being around the horses helped me deal with my grief.”
Tasha wasn’t kidding when she said immersed. She works as a hot walker and groom for Uncle Larry.
“Now I understand why Mom loved the horses as much as she did,” said Tasha. “It is also really nice to be involved with the backstretch community at Hastings. We are all competing against each other, but we all support each other. When I first started walking horses, people were very helpful in giving me advice on how to do it properly. I just love being here.”
CTHS Mourns Passing of Dermot Carty
Dermot worked for Adena Springs North for over three decades and was very influential in Ontario’s Thoroughbred breeding industry.
By: CT Staff | September 22, 2023
Long-time CTHS member and past board director Dermot Carty passed away today. Dermot worked for Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs North for over 30 years as a bloodstock agent, stallion manager, and advisor. Dermot purchased many successful sires and sire lines in his career and was very influential in Ontario’s breeding industry.
He joined the board of the CTHS in 2018 also serving on the National board. He resigned this spring for health reasons.
“Dermot was a strong voice in support of Ontario breeders. He could be counted on to share his opinion on any policy that would impact Ontario breeders and stallion owners,” said Peter Berringer, President of CTHS-Ontario. “He was a passionate believer in the importance of a strong Ontario-sired program to support the overall health of Ontario’s breeding and racing sector. On a personal level, I will miss my friend of forty years and our conversations on critical industry matters.”
The CTHS-ONT will share details of funeral arrangements when they are available.
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines, Saturday September 23
