Making his 50th start, Aurora Stables' Trick of the North outfought 1-4 choice Teide in a gritty stretch duel for his first stakes win in the $107,414 British Columbia Premiers (Can-III) Oct.18 at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver.
Ridden by Robert Skelly at 16-1 odds, Trick of the North rallied from last in the five-horse field after six furlongs to get up in the final strides by a head over Teide, who led most of the way in the 1 3/8-mile race. The winning time was 2:20.37 over a track rated "good."
The 8-year-old Trick of the North, trained by Barbara Heads, was claimed by the winning partnership for $25,000 in 2005. The British Columbia-bred 8-year-old gelding won for the sixth time this year in 10 starts. Now on a three-race win streak, Trick of the North finished third in the Premiers in 2005 and fifth in 2007.
Surprisal was the anxious early leader, breaking away to lead by five lengths in a :49.01 half-mile before Teide, also keen early along the inside, got the advantage. The multiple stakes winning Teide, ridden by Chad Haverson, took control after a mile, clocked in 1:40.20, and led by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong to run. Trick of the North, saving ground until swinging three wide in the stretch, closed too well, however, and won in a full drive.
Teide finished 3 1/4 lengths in front of Krazy Koffee, who finished well under Francisco Fuentes. Surprisal and Spaghetti Mouse trailed.
Trick of the North came into the Premiers with back-to-back wins over optional claiming foes at Hastings going 1 1/16 miles. The son of Western Trick--Remarkable Gal (by Regal Remark) owns a career record of 13-10-9 in 50 starts and has earnings of $403,604. The Premiers victory was worth $64,449.
Red Rock Farm bred the dark bay.
Trick of the North paid $34.40, $4.20, and $2.50. Teide, who has won four of seven races this year, returned $2.10 and $2.10. Krazy Koffee was $2.60 to show.
