Blog Post
Nigel Reid • August 12, 2020
Coulterberry wins Lieutenant Governors' - photo by Michael Bye
Nine of the 16 races over two days went to BC-bred runners, while a further two winners were bred outside the Province by locally based breeders. All of which underscores the notion that without BC-bred horses there would no racing at Hastings - something worth remembering as we approach this year’s CTHS Yearling Sale, scheduled for the Chilliwack Heritage Park on September 8.
There were racing thrills aplenty last week. COULTERBERRY (Finality) swept past last season’s BC Derby winner FIVE STAR GENERAL (Distorted Humor) in the $50k Lieutenant Governors' Handicap Stakes on Thursday while, on Sunday, Glen Todd’s frontrunner MISS PROSPECTOR (Harbor the Gold) took the $50k BC Cup Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes under a magnificent front-running ride by Scott Williams.
Coulterberry’s win was one of three last week for trainer Mark Cloutier. He also struck with CHEF (Congrats) and WICKED FORTITUDE (Wicked Strong) on Sunday.
The Christine Ammann barn, meanwhile, continues in terrific form and, interestingly, all three of her winners over both days were bred in BC by owner/breeders Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds but were by stallions based outside the Province.
ILHABELLA (Flat Out) broke her maiden on Thursday while, on Sunday, the opening two events went to Ammann’s all-conquering barn thanks to STAY FANTASTIC (Stay Thirsty) and juvenile maiden winner, KANDY KATIE (Twirling Candy).
Kandy Katie’s win came against boys in what was the first six-furlong two-year-old contest of the season. And there was much to like about the way the scopey-looking daughter of California-based sire Twirling Candy performed on her debut.
However, the most eye-catching two-year-old winner of the week came on Thursday when the Sandra Loseth-bred LITTLE BLACK DRESS (Lent) blitzed her five rivals in a three-and-a-half furlong gate-to-wire drag race. Trained by Steve Henson, Alex Marti’s mount hit the wire in 39.23s – close to SUMMERLAND’S (He’s Tops) 2018 track record (38.85s).
Little Black Dress, purchased at last year’s CTHS Yearling Sale by Pocket Aces Racing Stable, set up a double on the day for Henson, who also saddled the KY-bred FRANKIE MACHINE (Wilburn) for an impressive third consecutive win of the Hastings season.
Frankie Machine’s win was one of three winners for rider Scott Williams, who sealed the hat-trick aboard SATURNA (Cause to Believe) in Thursday’s penultimate contest.
Bred by Floyd Tompkins, Saturna’s win was a welcome second of the season for handler Pat Jarvis and one of seven BC-bred winners on Thursday.
Away from Hastings, the five-year-old BC-bred mare RAIDER (Stephanotis) landed the $40k Shirley Vargo Handicap Stakes at Century Mile on Friday. Trained by Greg Tracy, Raider is bred by Bill DeCoursey and is a half-sister to last season’s phenomenal filly INFINITE PATIENCE (Sungold) who, incidentally, goes for the $500k Woodbine Oaks this coming weekend.
Two-year-old watchers will have noticed that another of the mare’s daughters, DEFINITE PLEASURE (Second in Command), made her debut in Little Black Dress’s dash on Thursday. The record will show that the Barb Heads-trained youngster (who is another CTHS Yearling Sale graduate) finished last, having missed the break, but that tells only part of the story and there was much to like about her introduction to racing.
The riding plaudits for the two days belonged, narrowly, to Amadeo Perez, whose six-winner haul put him firmly in charge of the title race with 18 wins - three, four and five ahead of Messrs. Morales, Williams and Hernandez, respectively.
The prize-money trainers’ table is being lead by Mark Cloutier at the moment, although it’s a narrow lead of less than $5,000 ahead of Glen Todd. Numerically, the leading trainers are Christine Ammann and Glen Todd who have both saddled nine winners, one more than Barb Heads and Steve Henson.
Interestingly, all nine BC-bred victors were by different sires and in addition to those already mentioned, there were winners for Rosberg, in the shape of the John Snow-trained SARGENT RICK, Second in Command via the Harold Barroby-trained-and-bred IT’S IN COMMAND and, from the Dino Condilenios barn, Swift Thoroughbred’s homebred Pop Artist gelding, WILSON.
The former BC-based sire GOTCHA GOLD, meanwhile, notched another for breeders Steen and Cathy Reggelsen in the shape of HILARIOUSLYNAUGHTY. Owned by Nite and Day Stable and Joanne Todd, Hilariouslynaughty was a first winner of the season for trainer Brian O’Connell.
Racing resumes this Thursday evening with the BC Cup Sir Winston Churchill Stakes the highlight of eight races. Seven high-quality three-year-olds are scheduled to line-up for the $50k contest, including Chris Loseth Handicap winner SYNERGY (Sungold), impressive recent allowance winner PORTER GENT (Second in Command) and last season’s Ascot Graduation winner, CAPILANO CANYON (Abraaj) - who is yet another Stakes-winning graduate of the CTHS Yearling Sale.
Huge blow to Hastings as CTHS President passes just two weeks after his Willow Creek Farms secures its second consecutive leading-owner title
Current leading 3rd crop sire in Canada, the son of Smart Strike, COUNTERFORCE is on the move. COUNTERFORCE who stood in 2024 at Stride Away Thoroughbreds (Steen and Cathy Reggelsen) in Armstrong, BC will be relocating to Empire Equestrian in Ardrossan, AB. For breeding information contact Lori Neyka 780-719-0400 or [email protected] .
The office will be closed Wednesday, December 20, 2023 - Wednesday, January 3, 2024 The office reopens on Thursday, January 4, 2024 Wishing you a happy, healthy holiday season and good racing in 2024! The Directors and staff - CTHS BC
Plan to attend on Monday August 7th BC Cup Day at the Marquis Tent area
On the Move: Current leading second-crop sire in Canada COUNTERFORCE (seen with Jack Bennett at Road's End Farm)
An Inspiration for 2023 CTHS BC Yearling & Mixed Sale
To: All members of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (BC Division) NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TAKE NOTICE THAT the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (BC Division) will be held: Time: Commencing at 11:30 am Date: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 Place: CTHS (BC Division) Office - Boardroom #7 – 5492 Production Blvd. Surrey, BC The main purpose of this meeting is for the following: 1. to receive the annual reports of the Society; 2. to approve the appointment of the auditor for the 2022 fiscal year; 3. to transact such business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting. Dated this 30th day of May, 2023. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Note: Copies of the 2022 financial statements and minutes of the June 23, 2022 annual general meeting will be available at the meeting or upon request by contacting the office. As per Article XI, Section 9 (a) of the CTHS By-Laws, new business proposed to be discussed at the meetings of the Society, or any Regional Division thereof, shall be delivered in writing to the National Executive Secretary or Regional Secretary/General Manager as the case may be. Proposed new business, endorsed in writing by at least three (3) members entitled to vote at the meeting and received prior to the mailing of the Notice of the Meeting, shall be included in the agenda and may be subject of a vote at the meeting. Only voting members who are present are eligible to vote (no proxies).
Contact Us
#7 - 5492 - Production Blvd. Surrey, B.C. V3S 8P5
(604) 534 -0145
FAX: (604) 534-CTHS (2847)
Subscribe to receive Sales Catalogue
