Two-time BC Horse of the Year INFINITE PATIENCE cruised to victory in the $50,000 Monashee Stakes at Hastings racecourse in Vancouver on Canada Day.

From Daily Racing FormThe outcome of the 6 1/2-furlong dash was pretty much settled when Infinite Patience broke on top with Reyes riding. She was well in hand when she posted a half-mile time of 46.38 and held her rivals at bay the rest of the way under confident handling. The final margin was 1 1/4 lengths. Solarity also broke well, chased her stablemate the whole way, and held off We B Three by a nose. We B Three stalked the pace while saving ground, clipped heels with the winner when she tried to get through along the rail heading into the stretch turn, regrouped, and finished with determination to just miss grabbing the runner-up spot.

The final time was 1:16.18.

A British-Columbia-bred daughter of Sungold, Infinite Patience is owned by William Decoursey and Ryan Nugent Hopkins. Barbara Heads trains.

Infinite Patience has won 11 of 15 races and over $330,990.

A speedy mare, Infinite Patience met some tough rivals in the Monashee as most have already been racing in 2022. Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Bennett’s SOLARITY came off a win in the Emerald Downs Stakes on June 4 at 6-to-1, defeating Monashee starters Ca Ching and Heidi.

In the $50,000 SPAGHETTI MOUSE Stakes (like the Monashee, named for one of the province’s most successful racehorses) for 2-year-olds, it was first-time starter LEGACY SQUARE, a BC-bred son of Lent for Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds and James Redekop, who won impressively.

Purchased at the BC yearling sale last fall for $19,774 (US), Legacy Square had a great ride from Efrain Hernandez to win handily over Bak to Liberty, a half-brother to Infinite Patience.

And BE QUICK, one of two stakes winners saddled by Edgar Mendoza (Legacy Square), won the $50,000 Lieutenant Governors’ Stakes. From Daily Racing Form:

The bay colt edged Porter Gent by nose in the Lieutenant Governors’. Legacy Square was impressive winning his debut over Bak to Liberty in the Spaghetti Mouse.

Breaking from the outside post in the seven-horse field, Be Quick was aggressively ridden by Antonio Reyes to establish good early position in the 6 1/2-furlong Lieutenant Governors’, then prompted Sir Bregovic through a half-mile in 45.67 seconds, took over the lead on the stretch turn, and was all-out to hold off Porter Gent in a thrilling finish. Porter Gent stalked the leaders, lacked room turning for home, and after moving outside finished with a rush to just miss. It was another nose back to Cascade Billy who tracked the leaders and rallied between horses in the stretch to finish a head in front of Sir Bregovic.

The final time was 1:15.97.

A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Bodemeister, Be Quick was undefeated until he had a brutal trip in his first start of the year in the $50,000 George Royal on June 4. He races for White Hall Farms.

More stakes action on Sunday

On Sunday, July 3, the $50,000 SUPERNATUREL STAKES at 1 1/16 miles has a field of five 3-year-old fillies including the top three finishers from the River Rock Casino Stakes on June 11: Shamra, U Did It and Marys Tappin Shoes.

The $50,000 CHRIS LOSETH STAKES, for 3-year-old colts and geldings is led by GUNFIGHTER, a Ghostzapper colt who won his maiden for trainer Brad Cox at Fair Grounds. Purchased by Gordon Christoff, Gunfighter was third in the McLeod Stakes in his Hastings debut to Regal Riot, also in the Chris Loseth.