Ookashada Qins Inaugural Chris Loseth Handicap

Vancouver, B.C. – It was a successful homecoming for Ookashada at Hastings Racecourse Sunday in the inaugural Chris Loseth Handicap.

The champion 2-year-old in B.C. last year held off a gallant charge by longshot Bad Sneakers to win by a half-length and earn $33,268 for his owner Mike Boylan and T.D. Stables.

Ooksshada, trained by Toni Cloutier, is a probable starter in the B.C. Cup Stellar’s Jay on August 6 at Hastings. Ooksshada finished third over a muddy track in the $125,000 Alberta Derby in mid-June.

Ridden by Pedro Alvarado, Ooksashada broke sharply, pressed the pace from the inside and gained the lead on the final turn. Final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:45.06.

In Saturday’s Supernatural, Napa made a big move in the stretch to catch Calendar Girl for her second stakes win of the Hastings meet.

Chris Loseth had an illustrious career as a jockey that spanned more than three decades, finishing with an amazing 3,567 lifetime wins and 277 stakes victories. He won the riding title at Hastings an unprecedented eight times and in 2001 was named winner of the coveted Avelino Gomez Memorial Award in recognition of his contributions to thoroughbred racing in Canada.

More from Canadian Thoroughbred:

No Rest: Canada’s Horsepeople Racing in the U.S.

Woodbine's 2024 season recently ended, but already plenty of local horsepeople are back in the entries in tracks in the U.S.

Derby Winner Mystik Dan Returns in Malibu at Santa Anita

The December 26 card at the California track features a number of graded stakes races with the Grade 1 Malibu the highlight.

A Year in Photos: Canadians Coast to Coast

Canadian photographers who love to take images of horse racing continue to share their great work on social media.

Horses and Horsepeople End the Woodbine Season With Flair

After some bitterly cold December days, the final day of the 2024 Woodbine season was a touch milder for the 13-race card.