Miss Derek, third as the favorite in the British Columbia Oaks five weeks ago, will look to make amends when facing older rivals in the $100,000 Ballerina Stakes (Can-III) at Hastings Racecourse Oct. 14 in Vancouver.
The Columbus Day feature shares top billing at Hastings with the $100,000 British Columbia Premier's Handicap (Can-III). The 1 1/8-mile Ballerina is set as the sixth race on the card with a scheduled post time of 4:20 p.m. PT. Twelve fillies and mares are entered.
Trained by Craig MacPherson for Copper Water Thoroughbred, Miss Derek has had success against her elders previously, breaking her maiden by three lengths at Hastings on a sloppy track in May. A $100,000 Barretts purchase as a 2-year-old in March 2012, the Florida-bred daughter of Brother Derek out of the Tiznow mare Quick Text began her career in Southern California. She was claimed away from trainer Dan Hendricks and Cecil Peacock, who campaigned her sire, for $75,000 as a maiden at Santa Anita Park in March.
Miss Derek won both the Supernatural and Hong Kong Jockey Club handicaps at Hastings prior to the Sept. 8 BC Oaks, in which she opened a five-length advantage as the 9-5 pick but weakened late in her first try at 1 1/8 miles. Richard Hamel will be aboard for the first time from post 2. Miss Derek, who will race without blinkers, receives three pounds from her older rivals and will carry 120 in the weight-for-age event.
Cry Cry Cry, coming off her first stakes win by a head in the six-furlong Ladies Express at Hastings Sept. 2, looks to extend her winning streak to five races for trainer Rosann Anderson and owner Whieldon Thoroughbreds. The 7-year-old Jump Start mare has 12 lifetime wins from 30 starts. She will be ridden by Scott Williams, the second-leading jockey at the current Hastings meet, who replaces Hamel.
Madeira Park, trained by David Forster for Exclusive Stables and Raymond Hanson, won Hastings' Delta Colleen Handicap at the Ballerina distance in an upset by 1 1/4 lengths Sept. 8. The 4-year-old Langfuhr filly gets the services of again of red-hot jockey Rico Walcott. Also coming out of that race are Wando Woman and Saturday Nite Ride, who finished second and third, respectively.
J. Dennis Spence's Wando Woman, a daughter of 2003 Canadian Triple Crown winner Wando, has recorded runner-up finishes in her past three races, all stakes. Trainer Cindy Krasner taps leading Hastings rider Amadeo Perez for the return call.
Saturday Nite Ride, a front-running 4-year-old by Flower Alley, had a three-race win streak spoiled in the Delta Colleen. Sent off as the 3-4 favorite, she set the pace before giving way late. Troy Taylor, who won the 2009 Ballerina with Holy Nova, trains Saturday Nite Ride for Mark Dedomenico and North American Thoroughbred Horse Co.
Taylor also entered Castinette Dancer, who stretches out after a fifth-place finish in the Ladies Express.
Another to consider is Locket for trainer Frank Barroby. She rallied well to be second, half a length ahead of Miss Derek, in the BC Oaks as a 9-1 outsider.
$100,000 Ballerina Stakes (Can-III, Race 6, 4:20 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 1 1/8 Miles
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Lady Henrietta (KY), J Burningham, 120, S Gregory
2. Miss Derek (FL), R H Hamel, 120, C MacPherson
3. Saturday Nite Ride (KY), A T Gryder, 123, T Taylor
4. Touching Promise (BC), K Balgobin, 120, B Heads
5. Dashing Daisy (BC), W Antongeorgi III, 123, W La Vanway
6. Castinette Dancer (WA), F P Fuentes, 123, T Taylor
7. Rainbowsinthewood (BC), R Pacheco, 123, S Gregory
8. Madeira Park (KY), R W Walcott, 123, D Forster
9. Locket (BC), A A Reyes, 120, F E Barroby
10. Cry Cry Cry (KY), S Williams, 123, R M Anderson
11. Wando Woman (BC), A Perez, 123, C Krasner
12. Terlani (KY), E A Gonzalez, 123, F E Barroby
Blinkers Off: Miss Derek
