BC Cup day was a rousing success on August 7 at Hastings racecourse as many of the stars of racing took part in six stakes events throughout a hot, summer afternoon.
Fans wagered over $1 million on the biggest betting day of the season so far at the Vancouver track.
The first race on the BC Cup Day program was the $50,000 Debutante for two-year-old fillies going six-and-a-half furlongs and hitting the line in impressive style was Conrad Rozenek’s BREEZIN BRIANNE ($3.30), who took the field gate-to-wire under Brian Boodramsingh. The daughter of Bakken was away sharply and raced through contested fractions of 22.63 and 46 flat before asserting her superiority from the home turn and drawing clear to a big score in 1:17.90 for trainer Mel Snow. Don and Sue Danard’s WHY NOTS A WYNNER was situated perfectly behind the speed by Learie Seecharan and moved off the rail to get into the runner-up spot and finished a clear second without threatening the winner for a Mel Snow-trained Exacta. Jeff Sengara’s SOMEDAY LADY was off a step slow under Amadeo Perez, then rushed up to challenge for the lead on the inside and battled til the far turn but couldn’t stay with the winner and was able to hold third money for trainer Cindy Krasner.
Race 2 — BC CUP NURSERY
The second of the afternoon was the $50,000 Nursery for two-year-olds sprinting six-and-a-half furlongs and getting his first stakes victory was Willow Creek Farms and Lorie Henson’s MOUNT DOOM ($4.00), who relaxed nicely off a slow pace under Antonio Reyes and had just enough to inch by in deep stretch to get the victory in 1:18.11 for trainer Steve Henson. Double K Thoroughbred Stable’s PIONEER STORM KING showed good speed again under Amadeo Perez, setting sensible fractions (23.15, 46.58) and stayed game throughout, just missing but finishing a good second for trainer Rob Henson. Jordan Froelich’s MAKENA’S JOY was bumped out wide on the first turn and managed to re-rally with Silvino Morales aboard to get the third spot for conditioner Dino Condilenios.
A $15,496 (US) CTHS sale yearling in 2023 at the BC Mixed auction, Mount Doom was the second consecutive stakes winner on the day for Bakken (Distorted Humor).
Race 3 — BC CUP SPRINT
Bold Arch, a BC-bred by Archarcharch, rolled to another win on BC Cup day, his 13th in his 27 career races. (Patti Tubbs photo)
The third of the day featured the best sprinters on the grounds in the $25,000 B C Cup Sprint and proving fastest was John and Kim Morrison and Robin Sadler’s BOLD ARCH ($2.80), who easily cruised through splits of 22.71 and 45.59 then shifted to another gear and galloped home in a swift 1:15.79 for trainer John Morrison.
He earned an 81 Beyer Speed FIgure according to Daily Racing Form
Ed Claggett’s LUCKY FORCE had a lot to do, being far back with no pace up front, but Amadeo Perez was able to fly late to be second for trainer Craig MacPherson. Don Danard and Mel Snow’s CASCADE BILLY tracked the speed under Brian Boodramsingh and stayed-on to be third for Mel Snow.
Race 4 — BC CUP HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB
The fourth race was the $50,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club for three-year-old fillies and winning in exciting style was Peter Redekop’s AVANA ($2.40), who was alarmingly far back off of the speed with Amadeo Perez at the controls but they proved too much, using giant strides on the backside to catch the field, then opening up through the final stages to win in 1:44.30 for trainer Barbara Heads. Don and Sue Danard’s BROOKE MAGIC turned in a huge effort, relaxing behind the speed (23.42, 47.62, 1:12.97), then hitting the front and gamely battling to the wire to be a clear second for trainer Mel Snow. The Bennetts’ SUNBLAZE was another that was well back off the early pace under Antonio Reyes and rolled on late to be third for trainer Barbara Heads. The final time was 1:44.30 for a 70 Beyer Figure.
Avana is a BC-bred by Vino Rosso from Revealing Moment by After Market and she went through several sales before finally selling for $150,000 at the 2023 Ocala March Juvenile sale. The filly was bred by Dr. Bryan Anderson and Carol Anderson.
Race 5 — BC CUP DISTAFF
The fifth race of the day was the $50.000. BC Cup Distaff and winning was Bill DeCoursey and RNH Stables’ INFINITE PATIENCE ($4.30), who led the girls through sensible fractions (23.31, 47.30, 1:11.50) and was never seriously threatened under Antonio Reyes, winning in 1:43.62 for trainer Barbara Heads. Swift Thoroughbreds’ BUNNY turned in a game effort in her first Stakes try under Scott Williams, chasing the pace and holding second at the end in her first try at a mile-and-a-sixteenth for trainer Dino Condilenios. Renfrew Racing, B and B Racing, No Trump Stable, Matt Elder and Bill Breen’s MATSQUI came running late under Brian Boodramsingh to get the third spot for trainer Mark Freeman.
The remarkable Infinite Patience, by Sungold, was winning for the first time as a seven-year-old and the 20th time in 29 career races.
Race 6 — BC CUP CLASSIC
The sixth race was the $50,000 BC Cup Classic for three-year-old and upwards going a mile-and-a-sixteenth and was won by Roger Snow, Don Danard and Conrad Rozenek’s SPACE ($9.40), who was given a perfect ride by Brian Boodramsingh, settling off of a quick pace (23.31, 46.82, 1:11.29) before engaging the tiring speed and opening up a lead into the stretch and holding-on well to finish in 1:43.34 for trainer Mel Snow.
Space earned a career best 80 Beyer Figure.
The Felicellas’ SUNBIRD had a nice trip behind the speed on the inside but struck trouble when needing room on the final turn which cost him victory under Amadeo Perez and ended up a tough- luck second for trainer Terry Jordan. Bryan and Carol Anderson’s AT ATTENTION was taken far back early under Antonio Reyes behind a pace that was not fast and did really did well to finish third.
Snow bought the son of Ghostzapper from the 2023 Fasig Tipton July Horses of Racing Age sale for $52,000. Bred by Clairborne Farms and Adele Dilschneider, Space has four wins in 13 races.
Race 7 — BC CUP SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL DERBY TRIAL
The seventh on the card was the $50,000 Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial, a prep for the BC Derby. The winner was Wil-a-Way Farms, Gail Jewsbury and Pat Jarvis’s DIOCLES ($13.40) get up in between horses to snatch the win under Kerron Khelawan. After spending most the trip saving ground behind the speed, they split runners in mid-stretch to claim the big prize at the wire, winning in 1:44.33 for trainer Pat Jarvis. Dennis Spence’s WHAT’S SHAKIN’ was brilliant, closing-up late under Silvino Morales to just miss and end up an encouraging second for trainer Cindy Krasner. Peter Redekop’s AUGUST RAIN had a wide trip throughout under Amadeo Perez but still managed to make the lead in mid-stretch and just got reeled-in late, ending up a good third for trainer Barbara Heads.
Diocles was purchased for $10,671 (US) from the CTHS BC Mixed sale in 2022 from breeders Mark and Lyle Johnson.
DIOCLES was the afternoon’s second BC Cup Day winner from the mare MY SPECIAL ANGEL (Finality). Her two-year-old daughter BREEZIN BRIANNE (Bakken) also landed the BC Cup Debutante Stakes. My Special Angelm, a five-time winner in her career, has produced four other winners and she is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Excited Miss.
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