We’ll keep an eye on the BC-bred winners over the winter, but it’s safe to assume that we’ll have significantly fewer between now and the resumption of racing in these parts next spring.

The past few weeks has seen the flow of winners bred in the Province reduced to a trickle, although there is was certainly some quality in there, as well.

The final weeks also featured another winner apiece for the two leading first-season sires, BAKKEN and LENT.

Both FLORAL (Bakken) and TORINO GRAND (Lent) are trained by Craig MacPherson, who also has the smart BAKTURA (Bakken) in the barn.

Floral’s $25,000 Maiden Special Weight victory (against boys) on the penultimate weekend of the Hastings season helped propel her sire into second position on the national list of freshmen sires in Canada – quite an achievement for a BC-based sire when one considers the opportunities and numbers bred in Ontario.

Bakken’s six individual winners, including Stakes performers BARE BACK JACK and Baktura, garnered more than $142,000 in purses and leaves the son of DISTORTED HUMOR second behind FRAC DADDY (Daddy) as we approach the year end.

In many ways, Lent’s showing this season has been just as impressive as Bakken. The son of Pulpit sits in fourth position nationally and boasts five individual winners from just seven runners and 11 named two-year-olds.

Meanwhile, SUNGOLD (A. P. Indy) remains the leading BC-based sire on the general list of stallions standing in Canada. The Flying Horse Farm resident has enjoyed something of a reenergized season, with the likes of INFINITE PATIENCE, SUNBURST, SYNERGY, SANGRIA and SOPHIE SOLEIL not only doing very well, but also hinting that there may well be more to come.

SUNGOLD sits in 12th position on the general list, two places and $40,000 above SECOND IN COMMAND (Silver Deputy), whose progeny have won 22 races this term compared to Sungold’s ten.

The final significant list of BC-bred of the year features a little spurt of winners for Glen Todd’s Canmor-based sire, TEXAS WILDCATTER (Monarchos).

Two victories six days apart for TEXAS ALLEY CAT, as well as a second win of the season for the Patty Leaney-trained IMPOSING CAT and a win on the final day at Hastings for Todd’s homebred BABY ROSE, pushed the speed influence inside the top 40 sires in Canada with nine winners from 17 runners.

Finally, on the final weekend of racing in these parts, there were wins for two sets of siblings. STEVIE’S SONG (Storm Victory) and Torino Grand both landed contests at Hastings for their dam, TENDER TEEN (Benchmark), while Foundation Racing Stable’s mare GOSAILGO (Finality) was represented by the filly KENSINGTON MARKET (Mass Market) and her better-known half-brother, WEEKEND WIZARD (Rosberg) - who landed a division of the CTHS Sales Stakes series at Century Downs.

Few things speak better to the pleasure of breeding horses than these multi-generational winners from the same mare. BC breeders can take real pride in the job they continue to do under difficult circumstances.

There will undoubtedly be even tougher days ahead but, as long as we continue to demonstrate that we can produce tough, durable winning bloodstock, then there is cause for continued optimism.

October 19
Century Downs:
STORM'S BATTLE, Dark Bay or Brown Gelding, by Storm Victory out of At the Ball, by Bold Laddie. Foaled Mar 31, 2008 in BC. Breeder: Alfred C. Webster.

SPIN A TALE, Dark Bay or Brown Filly, by Tale of the Cat out of Burning Hope, by Dehere. Foaled Apr 13, 2016 in BC. Breeder: Jamie Demetrick.

Hastings:
KHAIKY'S COMMAND, Dark Bay or Brown Gelding, by Second in Command out of Sheila's Secret, by Regal Intention. Foaled Apr 13, 2015 in BC. Breeder: Paul Caravetta.

FLORAL, Bay Filly, by Bakken out of Montefiore, by Rahy. Foaled Apr 04, 2017 in BC. Breeder: Canyon Farms.

Turf Paradise:
MIDNIGHT IN MAUI, Dark Bay or Brown Gelding, by Midnight Lute out of Amazing Storm, by Awesome Again. Foaled Mar 15, 2016 in BC. Breeder: Whitewood Farm

October 20
Century Downs:
TEXAS ALLEY KAT, Gray or Roan Mare, by Texas Wildcatter out of Classic Alley Kat, by Katahaula County. Foaled Mar 31, 2013 in BC. Breeder: Glen Todd & Greystone Farm

October 22
Turf Paradise:
ASSETS INCLUDED, Bay Gelding, by Rosberg out of Interrogar, by Tejabo. Foaled Apr 05, 2014 in BC. Breeder: Ralph Jesiak

October 26
Century Downs:
SANGRIA, Dark Bay or Brown Filly, by Sungold out of Vinoterra, by Finality. Foaled Apr 07, 2017 in BC. Breeder: Mr. & Mrs. R. J. Bennett.

TEXAS ALLEY KAT, Gray or Roan Mare, by Texas Wildcatter out of Classic Alley Kat, by Katahaula County. Foaled Mar 31, 2013 in BC. Breeder: Glen Todd & Greystone Farm.

Hastings:

IMPOSING CAT, Gray or Roan Gelding, by Texas Wildcatter out of Big Dawson, by Stephanotis. Foaled May 07, 2014 in BC. Breeder: Glen Todd.

QUAGMIRE, Dark Bay or Brown Gelding, by Storm Victory out of Yodeling Ann, by Swiss Yodeler. Foaled Apr 29, 2016 in BC. Breeder: Helen Klimes & Sharon Marie Pring.

GOTTCHA COWBOY, Bay Gelding, by Gottcha Gold out of All Round Cowgirl, by Western Trick. Foaled Feb 08, 2017 in BC. Breeder: Lindsay Racing Stable.

BAD GIRL, Dark Bay or Brown Filly, by Second in Command out of Juvee Hall, by Graeme Hall. Foaled Apr 28, 2016 in BC. Breeder: Mr. & Mrs. John Snow.

STEVIE'S SONG, Dark Bay or Brown Filly, by Storm Victory out of Tender Teen, by Benchmark. Foaled May 01, 2016 in BC. Breeder: Doug Clyde.

BABY ROSE, Gray or Roan Filly, by Texas Wildcatter out of Trippi Bree, by Trippi. Foaled Mar 03, 2015 in BC. Breeder: Glen Todd.

October 27
Hastings:
TORINO GRAND, Bay Gelding, by Lent out of Tender Teen, by Benchmark. Foaled May 25, 2017 in BC. Breeder: Helen Klimes.

KENSINGTON MARKET, Chestnut Filly, by Mass Market out of Gosailgo, by Finality. Foaled Apr 08, 2016 in BC. Breeder: Foundation Racing Stable.

Century Downs:
WEEKEND WIZARD, Chestnut Gelding, by Rosberg out of Gosailgo, by Finality. Foaled Mar 28, 2015 in BC. Breeder: Foundation Racing Stable.