B.C. race team wins big at Canadian Derby

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She came, she saw, and she conquered. I am referring to Hastings Racecourse-based trainer Barbara Heads who won four of the last five races at Alberta’s Century Mile Saturday. The most important win was with August Rain in the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby.

“It was an unbelievable day,” said Heads. “You just hope the horses run well and you pick up a win in one of the races. You never imagine winning the Derby, the Oaks and the Distaff. I woke up the next morning in a fog.”

In the Canadian Derby, August Rain broke well enough, but with the leaders posting sprint-like fractions, Amadeo Perez had the smallish chestnut under a stranglehold and had one horse beat going into the first turn in the mile and a quarter race. The British Columbia-bred son of Sungold started to pick things up approaching the six-furlong mark but had to steady sharply and dropped back while losing position. However, it did not take Perez long to get August Rain rolling again and by mid-stretch the only question was what the margin of victory was going to be.

“After seeing how fast they were going up front I was pretty happy about where he was during the early part of the race,” said Heads.

With Perez aboard, Avana stumbled leaving the starting gate and was last early in the Century Casino Oaks. Heads wasn’t that comfortable seeing the daughter of Vino Rosso be that far behind while the leaders were walking up front in the 1 1/8 miles race.

“It was hard not to be worried when they are that far out of it while they are setting slow fractions up front,” she said. “But I had seen her do it in Vancouver so I was still confident she could get up in time.”

Heads had no worries about where Infinite Patience was sitting in the Northlands Park Distaff Handicap. With Antonio Reyes aboard, the classy daughter of Sungold was sitting just off an honest pace in the one-mile race. She took over the lead mid-stretch and held sway while winning by one and one-half-lengths.

“They were all important, but Infinite Patience’s race may have been the highlight for me,” said Heads. “She has been so good for so long and to see her do it again was pretty special.”

Infinite Patience has compiled an enviable record of 21-2-1 from 30 starts for earnings of $868,700. No wonder Heads has a fondness for her.

The fourth win came in the last race on the day with the Peter Redekop-owned Apprehend. Redekop also owns Avana and August Rain.

All four, plus At Attention, who finished third in the Speed to Spare, are back at Hastings and according to Heads are doing well. Infinite Patience is slated to make her next start in the Delta Collen on Sept. 7. Apprehend and At Attention are also possibilities for the S. W Randall Plate on the same day.

August Rain will likely be favoured in the Grade 3, $125 British Columbia Derby on Sept. 14. Avana will be heavily favoured to win the $75,000 B.C. Oaks on the same day.

No racing this weekend with the last Friday evening card of the year set for Sept. 6. Corgi dog races will be part of the festivities. The first thoroughbred race goes at 7 p.m.

There was an increase in the number of live racing days on Friday nights at Hastings this year and the results have been positive.

“We had some good success with four Friday nights in 2023 and the results have been even better this year with the momentum continuing to build,” said Matther Ruhlman, B.C. Racebook chief executive officer.

“Not only did they attract a younger demographic on site, they also filled a void for our simulcast audience in different markets with different time zones throughout North America and worldwide,” says Dawn Lupul, B.C. Racebook manager of racing and communications.

Randy Goulding has been handicapping horses and writing for The Racing Form at Hastings Park for more than 30 years. His column will run every Friday throughout the racing season.