2007 British Columbia Breeders’ Cup Derby Fact Sheet

Date: Sunday, September 23, 2007
Location: Hastings Racecourse
Race: $250,000 Grade III British Columbia Breeders’ Cup Derby, approximate post time 5:25 p.m. – a Special WeightStakes for three-year-olds; $250 to nominate; $2,000 to enter and $2,000 to pass scratch time. 60% goes to the winner; 20% to second, 11% to third, 6% to fourth and 3% to fifth. Weights: Colts & Geldings 126 lbs. Fillies 121 lbs. Preference will be based on current year earnings as recorded by The Daily Racing Form at time of entry. Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Field: Limited to 12 starters

2006 Winner: Halo Steven owned by Marta Racing Ventures; trained by Barbara Heads; ridden by Pedro Alvarado.
$2 Mutuel Prices:

3 – Halo Steven 16.00 6.70 5.50
11 – Head Chopper 7.10 4.40
1 – Ok Nothanksforaskn 2.70

$2 Triactor 3-11-1 Paid $277.30
$2 Exactor 3-11 Paid $117.40
$1 Superfecta 3-11-1-10 Paid $1,162.25

HALO STEVEN broke sharply, gained command from the inside, being well-rated set the pace under pressure, led throughout, prevailed driving. Won by a nose over Head Chopper in a four-horse cluster including Ok Nothanksforaskn and Raise the Bluff.

Amazin Blue won the Alberta Derby at Stampede Park in June and was then shipped to Del Mar where he finished out of the money in a $100,000 optional claiming race for 3-year-olds and up.
His next start was in the Canadian Derby on Aug. 25 where he finished fourth to the winner Footprint. Trainer Terry Jordan said at the time so much traveling might have taken a toll but added later: “He has started to pick it up a bit and I think he’ll be ready for a good effort in the Derby.”

One of two Peter Redekop runners in today’s race, Amazin Blue is a three-time winner in 2007. He has earned $148,345 this year.

Another Kris is the other Peter Redekop runner in the 2007 British Columbia Breeders’ Cup Derby. He has done all of his competitive racing in either California or Florida. He began his career with back-to-back wins and while he has won four times in nine lifetime starts, he has never been asked to go farther than a mile.
Owner Peter Redekop has had the pleasure of winning a Derby when Squire Jones won in 1994.
Another Kris will be saddled by Terry Jordan who won this race in 1996 with Newdigs and will be ridden by Dave Wilson who won aboard Spaghetti Mouse in 2005.

AZKABAN has been a frequent visitor to the winner’s circle of late and is riding a three race winning streak over mid-level claimers. He’s definitely been a better horse for the Swift Thoroughbreds since stretching out and running long. He obviously has some class issues but every year in the Derby there are some Davids that take on the Goliaths and sometimes the Davids win the fight.
The son of Stephanotis will be saddled by Dino Condilenios. If he runs he will be part of a mutuel entry with stablemate Beckenbauer.

Beckenbauer is owned by the successful Swift Thoroughbreds group. Under trainer Dino Condilenios, Beckenbauer beat older horses to break his maiden and has two wins plus two seconds in six trips to the post this year.
A gelded son of Menifee, Beckenbauer’s lone try against stakes company resulted in a close fourth-place finish behind Ookashada in the Chris Loseth Stakes back in early July.
He earned a spot in the Derby lineup with an impressive allowance victory late last month.
Former leading trainer Dino Condilenios will be looking for his first Derby triumph and he has summoned Felipe Valdez to ride. Valdez’s best Derby finish was on Steady Smiler who was second behind Roscoe Pito in 2003.

Celtic Dreamin carries the hopes of owner K.K. Sangara, who’s been unsuccessful in four attempts at winning this prestigious event. Trained by Rafael Becerra, Celtic Dreamin has won four of his five starts this year and has former Derby winning jockey Gerry Olguin (1989: Fleet Reserve) here from Woodbine to try and break the Sangara losing streak.
Celtic Dreamin is a California-bred with a strong B.C. connection. His dam, Astral Dreamer, is a full sister to 1995 BC Derby winner Flying Sauce.
Celtic Dreamin was claimed by Sangara for $40,000 when he debuted in a maiden race at Santa Anita on April 18. He’s versatile in the sense he has won on dirt at Santa Anita, the Cushion Track at Hollywood and his most recent win was on Polytrack.

Footprint is the highest earner in this year’s 62nd running of the British Columbia Breeders’ Cup Derby with $320,000 earnings.
Winner of the Canadian Derby at Northlands Park in Edmonton, regular rider Real Simard will be guiding Footprint’s fortunes at Hastings coming off three consecutive stakes victories. Prior to the Canadian Derby, those major wins were the Ky Alta and Count Lathum.
Footprint has yet to miss the board in ’07 with three wins, three seconds and a third in seven starts. A Kentucky-bred by Gold Case, Footprint was purchased as a yearling at the 2005 Alberta sale for $12,000.

Gandolf is the only maiden in the Derby and has raced well on both turf and dirt. In his latest start he finished ahead of some accomplished runners while checking in a close second in the Canadian Derby in his first start outside of California. He’s been training at Hastings and seems to be adjusting very well.
The popular Jake Barton will fly out to team up with Gandolf and will be looking for his first British Columbia Derby win. He’s been second in three Derbies - Satellite Signal ’93, Majestic Silence in ’94 and You’ve Got Action in 1997.

Jamaica Bound is trained by Washington Hall of Famer Jim Penney and if that name rings a bell it should, the Penney barn won the 2004 British Columbia Derby at Hastings with Flamethrowintexan for the Grasshopper Stable.
Jamaica Bound has been in the money in seven of eight starts this year at Emerald Downs, where he finished second in the Emerald Downs Derby. He was purchased out of the Washington sale for $65,000 in 2005.

Ookashada, owned by Mike Boylan and TD Stable, is a winner of more than $150,000 this year highlighted by his victories in the Chris Loseth and BC Cup Stellars’ Jay. Trained by Toni and Mark Cloutier, Ookashada will have popular jockey Justin Stein in the irons. Coming off a big season at Woodbine, Stein was Hastings’ leading jockey and leading apprentice in 2005 with 148 wins and almost $2.5 million in arnings.
Ookashada, last year’s local juvenile champ, has proven he can handle any type of track.

Rage Till Dawn is another one of the Derby hopefuls who started his career in California. He was claimed for $32,000 at Hollywood Park in late June.
He provided immediate dividends for his new owners by winning the Derby Trial at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg and then came back to finish second in the $100,000 Manitoba Derby. He was at a disadvantage in the Canadian Derby sitting in behind a slow pace and was only able to gain the fifth place cheque.
He’ll be teamed up with veteran Hastings rider Frank Fuentes whose best Derby finish was in 1998 when he piloted Ryson to a third place finish behind Vernon Invader.

Sir Gallovic could very well be the favourite in the 62nd running of the British Columbia Breeders’ Cup Derby following his outstanding seven-length victory in the $50,000 Richmond Derby Trial on Sept. 2.
Purchased privately by Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella after winning a $60,000 maiden race at Belmont on June 1, Sir Gallovic has a three-race winning streak going for him and will have Hastings leading jockey Mario Gutierrez in the irons.
Todd and Kinsella are fierce competitors as owners locally and they are looking for their first British Columbia Derby victory. Sir Gallovic is trained by current leading trainer Troy Taylor, who celebrated his 76th birthday earlier this month.