Texas Wildcatter, runner-up in the Canadian Derby (Can-III) last month, heads the field in the $250,000 British Columbia Derby (Can-III) at Hastings Park in Vancouver Sept. 21.
Trained by Malcolm Beveridge for owners Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella, Texas Wildcatter is the lukewarm 3-1 morning line choice in the field of nine 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles. The Florida-bred son of Monarchos has won two of 10 starts lifetime with three seconds and has been blanked in seven tries this year. His best race was a second-place finish in Aqueduct's Gotham (gr. III), where he was beaten by a nose by Visionaire.
Texas Wildcatter has one prior start at Hastings, a runner-up placing in the British Columbia Cup Classic Aug. 4. He was defeated by a neck by the popular handicap horse Spaghetti Mouse at the Derby's nine-furlong distance. In the 1 3/8-mile Canadian Derby Aug. 23, Texas Wildcatter got the lead in the stretch after a stalking trip, but was outfinished by Matts Broken Vow, finishing 2 1/4 lengths behind.
Chad Hoverson rides the gray colt for the third consecutive time. They will break from post 7.
Leading the local favorites is Richmond Derby Trial victor Krazy Koffee, winner of four consecutive stakes at Hastings, all at the 1 1/16-mile distance. A British Columbia homebred son of Regal Intention owned by Butch Goertzen and trained by Cindy Krasner, Krazy Koffee has won six of nine lifetime starts, all at Hastings.
Owner K.K. Sangara won the 2007 British Columbia Derby with Celtic Dreamin and he will have two contenders this year. Three-time Woodbine winner Dancingall Theway, a frontrunner, comes into the race off convincing back-to-back wins over Polytrack. Wink At The Girls, second in a stakes at Fairplex Park in Pomona, Calif., ships north for trainer Rafael Becerra.
Arkhill brings a three-race winning streak into the race and the Neville E. Davis Alberta homebred has won six of his seven starts overall. His last start July 12 in the Ky Alta Handicap at Northlands produced a two-length victory for trainer Craig MacPherson.
Washington State invader Fear No Evil set a strong pace in the Emerald Downs Derby last time out for trainer Frank Lucarelli before yielding late and finishing third. He captured both the Auburn and Seattle Slew stakes earlier this year.
$250,000 British Columbia Derby (Can-III, Race 9, 5:24 p.m.), 3-Year-Olds, 1 1/8 Miles
PP. Horse, Jockey, ML Odds
1. Papa Time (KY), Jake Barton, 12/1
2. Bears Home Run (KY), Quincy Welch, 12/1
3. Forest Prince (KY), Mario Gutierrez, 8/1
4. Arkhill (AB), Fernando Perez, 5/1
5. Fear No Evil (KY), Gary Baze, 10/1
6. Dancingall Theway (ON), Justin Stein, 4/1
7. Texas Wildcatter (KY), Chad Hoverson, 3/1
8. Wink At the Girls (FL), Gerry Olguin, 8/1
9. Krazy Koffee (BC), David Wilson, 7/2
Each assigned 126 pounds.
Texas Wildcatter heads the field in the British Columbia Derby.
Rick Samuels