GRYDER CAPS HIS INITIAL HASTINGS RIDING SEASON WITH WIRE-TO-WIRE WIN IN $100,000 PREMIERS

October 15, 2013

“Thank You Vancouver for Having Me”

Vancouver, B.C. (Oct. 14/13) – Veteran jockey Aaron Gryder was doing most of the thanking on Thanksgiving Monday as he acknowledged a healthy holiday crowd at Hastings Racecourse for their warm Vancouver hospitality this season.

Gryder completed his mission for owner Glen Todd with an impressive victory aboard Commander in the 67th running of the Grade 3 $100,000 BC Premiers on the final day of the thoroughbred 2013 schedule at Hastings.

“It’s been a great experience,” Gryder said from the winner’s circle. “I can’t thank Glen and his racing family enough for making me feel at home. I’ll be heading back to Santa Anita tomorrow morning with nothing but fond memories.”

Todd and his North American Thoroughbred Horse Company made Gryder his first-call rider at the start of the season. The Premiers was Gryder’s 45th win of the Hastings meet. He took Commander to the lead and finished the mile and three eighths feature for 3-year-olds and up in a final time of 2:16.15, paying $5.90, $3.30, $2.80.

MADEIRA PARK WINS $100,000 BALLERINA

Northlands Park leading jockey Rico Walcott said he saw a space at the top of the stretch and “went down the lane” in taking Madeira Park to a comfortable 1 ¾ length victory for trainer Dave Forster in the Grade 3 $100,000 Ballerina for fillies and mares. Madeira Park finished the mile and eighth course in a final time of 1:50.26, paying $7.40, $4.40, $3.50. Favoured Saturday Nite Ride (Aaron Gryder) battled early for the lead down the backstretch but weakened in the stretch drive and finished eighth in the 12-horse field.

NEVERABETTERCAUSE MUCH THE BEST IN ASCOT

Calling it a “perfect ride”, owner Dr. Bryan Anderson praised jockey Frank Fuentes for taking command on the final turn and urging Neverabettercause to a rousing 3 ½ length victory in the $75,000
Ascot for 2-year-olds going a mile and sixteenth in 1:44.90.

Architecture made a big move in the late going to win the $75,000 Fantasy for 2-year-old fillies with Enrique Gonzalez in the irons for trainer Dino Condilenios.

Gonzalez won two races on the final day to finish with 59 victories and the Leading Jockey title for 2013. Gonzalez was the hottest rider on the grounds over the last four days of the meet, winning a dozen times to beat last year’s leading jockey Amadeo Perez, who finished second with 57 wins.