Texan Swagger
Mel Snow and Eighteen Acres' BC-bred Wealthy Texan laid down a marker in the three-year-old division on Friday, with a gate-to-wire win over last year's leading juvenile, August Rain
HIGHLIGHTS
Owners Willow Creek Farms and Rob and Sheena Maybin visited the winner’s circle twice
Rob Maybin and Steve Henson had training doubles
Jockeys Ridge Balgobin and Antonio Reyes each had two victories
Four of the night’s races went to BC-bred runners
The handle was $391,361
A hazy and dry evening which remained on the cool side for the time of year. The track was fast all night and once again overwhelmingly favoured runners on the pace
Race 1.
The Friday opener saw Willow Creek Farm's LUCKY COWBOY ($6.00) grind out a hard-fought victory under Antonio Reyes, getting up late to win in 1:17.51 for trainer Steve Henson. The Estate of Mauro Comensoli's STANFORD NORTH broke well with Amadeo Perez at the controls, setting sensible splits of 22.31 and 45.71 and was just outrun in the closing strides for Dino Condilenios. The Estate of Mauro Comensoli's DIVAANY was in a perfect spot under Scott Williams tucked in behind the speed and came with a nice run on the final turn but could only get third money.
Claims:
RANCHO RED was claimed by owner Helen Jewell for trainer Ian Jewell
Race 2.
The second of the night was won by Willow Creek Farms and Fabio Chiesa’s HOAX ($3.40) who sprinted clear down the backside (22.34, 45.59) with Antonio Reyes aboard and just lasted in 1:16.94 for trainer Steve Henson. Praven Sorensen and Mort Hall's DREAMB settled nicely on the inside behind the pace, then started to creep up approaching the far turn, had to steady and ran on well late to be a close runner-up under Amadeo Perez for Barbara Heads. Gary Johnson's ALOBRAH showed her usual good speed with Chris Mamdeen up and stayed on gamely to be a good third.
Race 3.
The third of the evening, via disqualification, went to Russ and Lois Bennett's SOLARITY ($5.50) who relaxed comfortably in the second spot before driving up the rail in the stretch under Amadeo Perez. The stewards took the view that she was impeded inside the sixteenth pole and was eventually promoted to the win position for Amadeo Perez and trainer Barbara Heads. Blue Willow Dairy’s DAPHNE set an easy and uncontested tempo (22.84, 45.84) under Silvino Morales and looked good until she drifted in late, causing her to be placed second after stopping the timer in a rapid 1:15.97. Rob and Sheena Maybin's NEIGHNEIGH was making her first start of the young season and shook off some rust, running on strongly to be third.
Race 4.
The fourth was the feature of the day, an allowance event for three-year-olds at six-and-a-half furlongs, and hitting the line first was Eighteen Acres and Mel Snow's WEALTHY TEXAN ($5.90), who was afforded some very soft fractions (22.65 and 46.30) before sprinting home under Brian Boodramsingh to win in a quick 1:16.63 for conditioner Mel Snow. Peter Redekop's AUGUST RAIN raced most of the trip in the three path under Amadeo Perez and did very well to be a solid second in 2024 debut for trainer Barbara Heads. Canyon Farm's VECTOR had a nice trip, sitting in the two path on the tepid pace under Antonio Reyes, and ended up a close third in his first start of the season.
Race 5.
The fifth on the program was won by SSRG Racing's LONIE MO ($4.50) who went gate-to-wire under Chris Mamdeen, setting comfortable fractions of 22.74 and 46.40 and just lasted for the win for trainer Rob Maybin. Russ and Lois Bennett's SUNBLAZE was an unfortunate runner-up, checking on the final turn and re-rallying to just miss in a narrow defeat under Antonio Reyes for trainer Barbara Heads. Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds EDDIE'S GIRL was up close early under Silvino Morales, then drifted back and came on late to get the third spot for Edgar Mendoza.
Race 6.
The sixth race on the card went to Rob and Sheena Maybin's ARIKARA ($3.80) who got a soft opening quarter (22.76) and that was all the help she needed, as she found the line first, barely, under Ridge Balgobin in 1:16.01 for trainer Rob Maybin. Dennis Dale, Tabitha Perry, Sheryle Benson, Paul Cashman and K D Rycroft Racing Stables’ WANDALITA was flying late after suffering from a wide trip from her outside draw under Kimal Santo and ended up an unlucky second for trainer Nicole Rycroft. RKR Racing's LUCY TREASURE was away well under Kerron Khelawan and chose to settle just in behind the slow pace, holding her position in third throughout for trainer Nancy Betts.
Race 7.
The final dash of the night saw Neil Braithwaite's KARDINAL ROSE ($16.90) make her debut a winning one as she rallied from far back to loop the field under Ridge Balgobin to win easily for trainer Keith Pedersen in 1:18.87. Sandra Corsan's BORROWED EQUITY was off slow and closed-up quickly in the stretch to gain the runner-up spot under Brian Boodramsingh for conditioner Mel Snow. Rocking Bar B Outfit’s BE SPARKY put in an impressive run on the final bend to challenge for the lead from between runners under Gordon Gregory and just lost second nearing the wire, ending up a promising third for trainer Frank Barroby.
The Derby Replay
CITY OF TROY (Justify), who flopped mysteriously in last month’s 2,000 Guineas, proved the loss no more than a blip when returning to his scintillating best at Epsom on Saturday, coming with a perfectly-timed run under Ryan Moore to take the $2.6 million Derby. The son of Triple Crown winner Justify gave trainer Aidan O’Brien a remarkable 10th win in the great race and was a fourth ‘Blue Riband’ win for his rider, Moore.
Don’t Forget!
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