Blog Post
Nigel Reid • Jul 17, 2020
Familiar names make eye-catching returns to action
Week two of the foreshortened Hastings season provided plenty of competitive racing, with BC-breds and local owner/breeders continuing to make an impact.
Eight of the 14 races over two days went to BC-bred horses, with Glen Todd also the breeder of two winners, NOT YET (Colonel John) and DAKATI (Tale of Ekati), bred by him in Kentucky.
The first day was a case of doubles all round, with two winners apiece for the Rob Gilker, Barb Heads and Todd barns while, conversely, the second day’s seven contests went the way of seven different handlers.
Todd’s brace included the seasonal reappearance of his BC Derby hero FIVE STAR GENERAL (Distorted Humor), who displayed zero ring rust under a confident ride by Efrain Hernandez; the compact and attractive colt had too much under the bonnet for his five rivals and laid down an ominous marker for the remainder of the year.
The Hastings’ record book will also show that Monday, July 13, 2020 brought a first career winner for trainer Lisa Anderson. She saddled ALLSTAR BOY (Fury’s Allstar) to win the maiden claimer by a neck under the in-form urgings of rider Scott Williams. Congratulations to Lisa and our best wishes for the rest of the season.
There was another significant “first” on the second day of racing when BIG TIME LOUIE (Second in Command) broke his maiden to mark a first winner for the Sandown Racing Club – a project put together by Big Time Louie’s breeders at White House Stables.
The Sandown Racing Club, which is named for the once popular but now defunct Vancouver Island racetrack, was launched last year by White House Stables’ Nicky Wylie to help rekindle local interest in our great sport. The club leases Big Time Louie and the three-year-old gelding was well supported in the market - hopefully members found plenty of financial compensation for not being able to be at the track to watch their horse in person.
FAMILIAR NAMES
With just two runs so far in his fledgling career, Big Time Louie’s name looks set to become a familiar favourite at Hastings, although he will have some way to go to become as well known as the remarkable ADITYA (Mass Market), whose win on Monday was an eleventh in a career that has seen the Barb Heads’ inmate win or hit the board in 29 of his 38 races.
BLUEGRASS ANGUS (Bluegrass Cat) is another familiar name at Hastings and the speedy eight-year-old, and former BC Derby runner-up, showed he retained all his old enthusiasm to win his seasonal debut for owner/trainer Craig MacPherson and rider Efrain Hernandez. That’s four wins in succession for “Gus” and he’s now in the death and taxes category of reliability, his undoubted talent expertly rationed and martialled by MacPherson.
Three second-place finishes behind Baktura and Catchacougar last season marked PORTER GENT (Second in Command) as one of the best maidens on the Hastings backstretch, and a comprehensive odds-on win for the Tod Mountain homebred on Tuesday hinted at more to come.
Porter Gent’s win made it a double over the two days for Road’s End Farm’s SECOND IN COMMAND, while Barb Heads’ two winners (Aditya and SOLARITY) were both by the Red Rock Farm stallion, MASS MARKET (Marquetry). There were winners also for BC sires SUNGOLD and BAKKEN.
FIRST TWO-YEAR-OLDS
Sungold’s winner came in the shape of the two-year-old filly ANOTHERSUNNYDAY, who made a hugely impressive first impression, sauntering to a six-length win in her three-and-a-half furlong maiden special weight in a time (39.27) that only just missed Summerland’s track record of 38.85.
Bred by Elton Gunther and bought by Peter Redekop at last year’s CTHS BC Division yearling sale, Anothersunnyday is trained by Keith Pedersen. Her comprehensive win was reminiscent of the bow made last season by another daughter of Sungold, Infinite Patience.
Incidentally, Summerland is entered to make her seasonal debut at Woodbine this weekend. Trainer Phil Hall has picked an allowance optional claimer contest for George Gilbert’s pigeon catcher. The race carries a purse of $108,000.
WINNING MACHINE
One of my favourite horses on the West Coast, ASSETS INCLUDED (Rosberg), has won again. The tough-as-teak six-year-old struck at Emerald Downs and, while he is very much a low-level claimer these days, that’s two wins and two second-place finishes from five runs this season - and a career total that now reads 15-11-8 from 47 starts.
In other BC-bred news, there was a maiden victory for the White House Stables-bred NU LEGACY (Numaany) at Century Mile, as well as a double for breeder Helen Klimes in the shape of VICTORY SHADOW (Storm Victory) and LOCKED AND LOADED (Storm Victory).
Meanwhile, HAIDA (Cause To Believe), who is bred by Bryan and Carol Anderson, won at Assiniboia Downs and SASSY N CLASSY (Gotcha Gold), who is bred by Diane Magdalin, won at Grande Prairie.
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).
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