Vancouver, B.C. (August 4/14) – A Hollywood script writer could not have written a more tantalizing chapter in the life and times of Wilo Kat, Monday’s come-from-behind winner of the $75,000 Redekop BC Cup Classic at Hastings Racecourse.

A year ago Wilo Kat ran a disappointing and devastating third as the heavy favourite in the Classic on BC Cup Day with two long shots – Brass and Gold (20-1) and The Gov (22-1) finishing first and second, respectively.

Noted for doing his best running late, Wilo Kat trailed Monday’s five-horse field but made his patented well-timed move along the rail in the stretch run to win going away by three and three-quarter lengths in a final time of 1:49.61 over the 1 1/8 mile race for 3-year-olds and up. Running for trainer John Snow with leading rider Amadeo Perez up, Wilo Kat paid $3.60, $2.30 and $2.10.

The 20th edition of BC Cup Day was a resounding success with an estimated crowd in excess of 10,000 watching six stakes races restricted for B.C.-breds as part of a 10-race card that resulted in $1.45 million in total on-and-off-track wagering, a season high at Hastings.

It was a day that brought out guest decorators such as Vancouver City Councillor Adriane Carr, Toronto Raptors assistant coach Nick Nurse, Olympic boxer Manny Sobral, former Vancouver Canadians and St. Louis Blues president Jack Quinn and Vancouver Giants executive Dale Saip. It was also a day when the Ralph Bower Horse Racing Photo Gallery was unveiled at Hastings featuring a collection of Bower’s legendary thoroughbred pictures taken over the past half-century. Prints of his stunning collection will be sold throughout the balance of the season with total proceeds going to the Hastings Jockey Benefit Fund.

The opening stake race Monday saw fan favourite Mario Gutierrez ride Cederberg to a front-running five-and-a-half length victory in the BC Cup Nursery for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

Wando Woman rallied from well off the pace to beat Locket by a length-and-a-half in the Distaff for fillies and mares; Dawselina was an upset winner in the Dogwood for 3-year-old fillies; Quatre Cat nosed out Finality’s Charmer in the Debutante for 2-year-old fillies and heavily-favoured Koffee Grinder was a five-length winner in the Stellar’s Jay for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

Racing resumes at Hastings with the first Friday Night Live card of the season on Aug. 8 at 7:00 p.m. that includes a $10,000 guaranteed Pick 4.