Riot Prevails in BC Derby
Regal Riot brought the Derby Day crowd to its feet with a heart-stopping head victory in the big race, while the wonderful Kloepatra landed the Oaks in style
HIGHLIGHTS
Riders Kimal Santo, Antonio Reyes and Amadeo Perez rode doubles
Both Edgar Mendoza and Barbara Heads saddled two winners
Owner Peter Redekop finished second in both Oaks AND Derby (and won a Grade 1 at Del Mar)
The handle checked in just north of $900,000
The Pick 5 carryover is at $4,225 and the Pick 6 is at $1,871
Summer’s heat may be on the wain, but it was another glorious afternoon at Hastings with a perfect blue sky threatened later only by a hazy blanket of woodsmoke from regional forest fires. The track was fair and fast all Derby Day afternoon.
Race 1.
The first event of BC Derby day was an optional allowance for three and up going six and a half furlongs and proving fastest was Robin Sadler, John and Kim Morrison's BOLD ARCH ($4.60) who after getting off a step slow quickly regathered himself to gain the lead through early splits of 21.74 and 45.13 then opened up a good lead turning for home and just lasted to win in 1:15.97 under Silvino Morales. The Foundation Stables SLEW'S BAK was allowed to settle off the pace and then when asked by Efrain Hernandez he produced a quick burst down on the inside and was getting to the winner but had to settle for second in a big performance for trainer Rob Anderson. Russ and Lois Bennett's SET TO SHINE was in a good striking position early and had every shot and ended up third.
Race 2 — The $50,000 Delta Colleen Handicap Stakes
The second of the afternoon was the $50,000 Delta Colleen for fillies and mares and as expected Bill DeCoursey and the RNH Stables INFINITE PATIENCE ($2.20) proved best as she was relaxed off of a slow early tempo (24.44, 47.71 and 1:11.76) and then breezed clear under Antonio Reyes to be a confident winner in 1:43.43 for conditioner Barbara Heads. Russ and Lois Bennett's SOLARITY ran another bang up race cruising in behind the speed and made a run at the winner but had to take home second money in another solid effort. The Willow Creek Farms WE B THREE was up on the pace throughout and stayed on well to be third.
Race 3 — Marathon Race, Div I
The third race went to the Minnaloushe Stables and Dave Milburn's BABY GRAND ($22.90) who set a leisurely pace of 24.11, 48.65 and 1:14.02 and was resolute to the wire under Kimal Santo to win in 1:51.41 for trainer Dave Milburn. Rob Thacker’s PINEAPPLE TIDBITS ran another smasher racing primarily between horses throughout which isn’t ideal and was tipped out three wide on the final turn to make things interesting and checked in second. The Willow Creek Farms LAUGH WITH ME had a horrible journey checking on a couple of different occasions down on the rail which cost him the victory and he had to settle for an unlucky third.
Race 4 — The Glen Todd Memorial Race
The fourth of the day was for two year old maidens and went Jerry Billan's TIME TICKER ($6.40) who was promoted to first after the stewards ruled that he was cost a better placing after just missing by a nose in 1:13.16. Antonio Reyes had the son of Ralis settled in behind the speed then made a nice three wide move to get in contention and was going well while lugging in but was impeded at the sixteenth pole causing him check briefly which was enough for the change when losing by a nose. Canyon Farm's ROAD CLOSURE did all he heavy lifting early setting a sensible pace (23.54, 47.28) and was game to the wire and was an unfortunate second under Efrain Hernandez. John and Kim Morrison's MILITARY CROSS was impressive in his debut as he rallied strongly in the lane to get third money.
Race 5 — The $50,000 S.W. Randall Plate
The fifth race was the $50,000 SW Randall Plate and winning in wire to wire fashion was the Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds PORTER GENT who was allowed to amble through easy fractions of 24.94, 49.38 and 1:13.84 then had plenty left to hold off his opponents to win in 1:43.76 under Amadeo Perez for trainer Edgar Mendoza. Bryan and Carol Anderson's AT ATTENTION ran his usual good race but the dynamics of the race were against him and had to travel in the three path throughout yet still managed to be second. The Ironside Stables UNCHARACTERISTIC was also hurt by the slow pace and showed a lot talent to get close and just lost the photo for second ending up third.
Race 6.
The sixth on the card was won by the Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds QUALITY COMMAND ($6.30) who sat a nice trip under Amadeo Perez then easily breezed by the pacesetters to win in 1:17.98 for trainer Edgar Mendoza. Don Tetaranko's SILK STILETTOS was hustled along to lead through contested fractions of 22.45 and 47.01 and held on gamely to save the second spot. The Canmor Farms, Maureen Goss and Adrian Trombley’s ANAAMY was a little sharp and over-racing behind the speed checking slightly on the first turn and got off the rail into the lane and just missed second.
Race 7 — The $75,000 British Columbia Oaks
The seventh race was the $75,000 BC Oaks and taking home the top prize was the WYN Racing Stables KLOEPATRA ($9.00) who was settled back off of the early pace by Kimal Santo then made a swift three wide brush on the final turn to assume command and draw away for a convincing victory for trainer Larry Grieve in 1:52.01. Peter Redekop's AYELLOWROSEOFTEXAS was stuck in behind horses for much of the trip then shook loose in the stretch with a clever ride by Scott Williams to be second. Russ and Lois Bennett's VIVA LA VINO ran a much improved race with Gabriel Morales in the irons to be near the early lead which was quick (22.94,46.32 and 1:12.02) and ran on with a purpose through the lane after encountering some traffic issues and just missed second ending up third.
Race 8 — The 75th running of the British Columbia Derby (Grade 3)
The eighth race on the program was the $125,000 BC Derby and in an exciting stretch duel Kim Peacock and Lance Giesbrecht's REGAL RIOT ($5.70) was all heart to outsprint AROLLERCOASTERRIDE to the wire to win in 1:50.73 under Efrain Hernandez for Rob Anderson. The son of champion mare Regal Red was content sit nestled under a snug hold just off of the flank of the leader then dropped his head when asked and out-gamed everyone for the victory. Peter Redekop's AROLLERCOASTERRIDE was an impressive runner-up in his first start at Hastings as he set very comfortable splits of 23.74, 48.88 and a very slow 1:14.71 then started to sprint home but lost the lead heading into the stretch and couldn’t get it back losing by the narrowest of margins under Antonio Reyes. Roger Snow, Don Danard and Conrad Rozenek's BOITANO was obviously hurt by the extremely slow fractions that were being set but still rallied strongly from off the pace to be rescue the third spot.
Race 9 — Marathon Race, Div II
The last of the afternoon went to the Willow Creek Farms and Fabio Chiesa’s FRANKIE MACHINE ($5.20) who sat a nice trip relaxed off of a reasonable pace of 23.51, 47.50 and six panels in 1:12.70 then started to leave the field behind as he sprinted for home to a measured win in 1:52.20 with Scott Williams up for conditioner Steve Henson. Gord Christoff and Lance Giesbrecht's ERLICH made a big late run to get second under Kerron Khelawan. The WYN Racing Stables VON DOM turned in another top effort but afforded the luxury of a good trip but he still battled on well to be third.
Claims: ONE FIFTY ONE was claimed by Mr and Mrs Harold Barroby for trainer Harold Barroby
Latest Standings
OWNERS:
Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds - 12
Rob and Sheena Maybin - 11
Willow Creek Farms - 8
TRAINERS:
Edgar Mendoza - 29
Barbara Heads - 29
Mark Cloutier – 21
JOCKEYS:
Amadeo Perez – 56
Antonio Reyes – 44
Efrain Hernandez - 28
Racing at Hastings resumes Sunday with a seven race card. First race: 2:00 p.m.
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