RONDELITO, owned by Lorie Henson, trained by husband Steve Henson and ridden by Kimal Santo, parlayed a stalking trip behind a wild pace battle into a victory in the British Columbia Derby (G3) on Saturday at Hastings racecourse in Vancouver.
The three-year-old gelding by Lent – Vandelita by Street Sense stalked along the rail of the 1 1/8-mile race for nine three-year-olds before taking control up the backstretch and winning by 3 1/2 lengths. He paid $12.70 to win. The time was 1:50.30.
The BC Derby wrapped up the Western Canada Derby Series, which offered bonuses to the leading point earners. ATTACK, who was placed first in the Manitoba Derby, earned nine points and took home the owner and trainer bonus for Highfield Investments Group, Smokin Guns Stable and partners, and trainer Craig Smith.
This was the fifth straight win for Rondelito, who did not travel to the Manitoba Derby or the Canadian Derby, but won the R. McLeod Stakes, Chris Loeth Stakes and Sir Winston Churchill Stakes before the Derby win.
Accidental Genius was second and Dancing Porky rallied for third.
Rondelito was bred by Christine Ammann and he was a $29,517 US yearling purchase from the 2023 CTHS BC Mixed Sale.
The Derby was delayed by more than 22 minutes due to a very messy BC Oaks earlier in the card. Heavily-favoured Chi Chi Time, the undefeated three-year-old filly trained by Pat Jarvis, flipped in the gate and was scratched. She needed assistance to be freed from the gate.
The race was down to four horses and somehow, three horses were involved in a bumping incident that led to a lengthy inquiry and, eventually, a double disqualification.
Gee I’m Foxy, who had been 4-1 at the time of the gate incident, became the new 4-5 favorite. She led most of the way and crossed the finish line first, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of runner-up Someday Lady, who went from 8-1 to 3-2.
Zenari, who shortened from 30-1 to 6-1, crossed third, but her jockey Antonio Reyes claimed foul against the first two finishers for interference midway up the backstretch in the three-turn, 1 1/8-mile race. The same objection was made by Pat Jarvis, the trainer of both Zenari and the scratched favorite Chi Chi Time.
Twelve minutes later, stewards promoted Zenari to the victory, demoted Gee I’m Foxy to second and dropped Someday Lady to third.
Zenari is a bay filly by Counterforce – Golden Roar by Roar. She has won two of nine starts, having broken her maiden for $7,500 claiming on May 25. Zenari was bred by John Bennett and was a $3,689 US yearling purchase from the 2023 BC CTHS Horses of Racing Age Sale.
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