It was another busy week for BC-bred winners in the region, with KRISSY (Pop Artist) and DAY FLYER (New Year’s Day) the pick of a competitive-looking group in terms of potential.

The Canyon Farms-bred DAY FLYER (pictured) was particularly eye-catching in breaking his maiden. The performance wasn’t particularly flashy, the winning distance just a length, but the Craig MacPherson-trained three-year-old son of third-crop sire New Year’s Day looked the likely winner a long way from home under the confident handling of Enrique Gonzales.

According to MacPherson, Canyon Farms were quick to recognize the potential of New Year’s Day and they have certainly been rewarded for their early-bird commitment. DAY FLYER’s connections will be hoping he follows in the footsteps of DAT DAY and DAY RAIDER, who were both by the sire now firmly on the map thanks to the exploits of Kentucky Derby “winner”, Maximum Security.

Sadly for anyone keen to follow Canyon’s bold initiative, the worm has been caught. Having already moved to Brazil, it was announced recently that NEW YEAR’ S DAY would take up permanent covering duties in Japan.

KRISSY followed up on her opening weekend maiden victory by shrugging off her “never won two” allowance test with the minimum of fuss, romping to a 7¾ -length victory over what had looked a fairly tricky assignment – or, at least it did on paper.

The Glen Todd-bred UNDER PAR was another who stepped up on her opening weekend effort, landing a $25,000 claiming event just a fortnight after a second-place finish in the Brighouse Belles Stakes. Owned by Canmor Farms and Maureen Goss, the daughter of the late Stephanotis is a third winner this term for the son of Regal Classic.

It’s a time of transition among the BC-based stallions. Several older, familiar names, such as the likes of Cause To Believe and Second In Command have either stopped covering altogether or are coming to the end of their stud careers. Waiting in the wings are the young whippersnappers with, this year, exciting two-year-olds by the likes of Bakken and Lent about to appear.

And, waiting in the wings of course, there are yearlings by Value Plus while, further down the road, we will eventually have the progeny of Ralis and Counterforce to look forward.

There remains life in some of the older sires, obviously and barely a week passes now without another winner for Red Rock Farm’s stalwart, Finality.

The 20-year-old struck twice this past week with CUTE IN A TOQUE, surely the most Canadian sounding horse around at the moment, winning at the new Century Mile track for breeders Red Rock Farm; and the cleverly named WE ARE FREE winning on Victoria Day at Hastings for her breeders, Mike Anderson & Terry Clyde.

Congratulations to all the connections!

MAY 18
Hastings:
UNDER PAR, Dark Bay or Brown Filly, by Stephanotis out of Big Bertha (GER), by Tertullian. Foaled Mar 07, 2015 in BC. Breeder: Glen Todd

KRISSY, Chestnut Filly, by Pop Artist out of Ouch, by Gilded Time. Foaled Jun 09, 2016 in BC. Breeder: Dino Condilenios

GIMME SOME SLACK, Bay Gelding, by Storm Victory out of Sheisrough, by Stephanotis. Foaled May 14, 2015 in BC. Breeder: Helen Klimes

MARTELLO, Bay Gelding, by Second in Command out of Comic Opera, by Katahaula County. Foaled Mar 27, 2014 in BC. Breeder: Jim Eccott, Bryan Anderson & Carol Anderson.

Lethbridge:
LAST BLOOM, Gray or Roan Gelding, by Cause to Believe out of Lornamahra, by Mass Market. Foaled May 06, 2014 in BC. Breeder: Eighteen Acres Ltd.

WANNAGO, Chestnut Gelding, by Quiet Cash out of Wanna Begone, by Demons Begone. Foaled Mar 12, 2014 in BC. Breeder: Mr. & Mrs. E. M. Dittloff & K. Dittloff.

Prairie Meadows:
HUNTERS APPEAL, Bay Gelding, by Successful Appeal out of View Halloo, by Halory Hunter. Foaled Mar 28, 2014 in BC. Breeder: Demetrick Racing

MAY 19
Century Mile:
CUTE IN A TOQUE, Bay Filly, by Finality out of Real Vain, by Western Trick. Foaled Mar 08, 2016 in BC. Breeder: Red Rock Farm.

MAY 20
Hastings
BETATHANABOYFRIEND, Chestnut Gelding, by Mass Market out of Dancing Dalia, by Finality. Foaled May 06, 2016 in BC. Breeder: Suzanne I. Anderson

ECO CHARGE, Chestnut Mare, by Forest Grove out of Izakaya, by Mass Market. Foaled Apr 08, 2014 in BC. Breeder: Ralph Jesiak

WE ARE FREE, Dark Bay or Brown Filly, by Finality out of We Are One, by You and I. Foaled Mar 06, 2016 in BC. Breeder: Mike Anderson & Terry Clyde.

DAY FLYER, Chestnut Gelding, by New Year's Day out of Shadow Steele, by Smart Strike. Foaled Mar 23, 2016 in BC. Breeder: Canyon Farms

RED BUFFALO, Chestnut Gelding, by Teide out of Taragon, by Regal Intention. Foaled Mar 08, 2015 in BC.Breeder:Loire Patricia Miller.