One of the biggest days of the year at Hastings Racecourse is on the horizon for this Sunday with the running of the Grade 3 $275,000 British Columbia Derby. We’re already expecting this one to be an absolute barn-burner and my money is likely going to be focused primarily on Canadian Derby winner (and local favourite) Tommy Danzigger. The Rob Gilker-trained 3-year-old bay gelding has scored at Stakes Level several times, notably winning the Stellar’s Jay Stakes in classy fashion at Hastings. He also won the Ascot Graduation Stakes over the same course last October.
The field that Tommy Danzigger disposed of in the Canadian Derby features many of the most impressive runners outside of Woodbine and even featured a few classy imports from the US. I think Tommy Danzigger boasts the quality and the pedigree in this one and I like him over both the surface and the distance. This is him racing on home soil and I expect him to be dominating down the stretch.
For a horse that sold for $12,353 as a yearling this is a great story for BC Racing. I’m also going to point to Tommy Danzigger’s quality fractions in the Canadian Derby as an indice that he should be the favourite, possibly the odds-on favourite heading into Sunday’s contest. He produced a 1:16.20 over six furlongs with a 1:42.4 mile- race-winning numbers.
Other contenders include the speed horse Jersey Town, who many of us expect to set the early pace. He’s been ripping it up down at Monmouth, scoring in an allowance race in early August. He’s a speedy horse and came second in his first go at the turf in the Restoration Stakes at monmouth. I think he’s being sent to Hastings way too late though, arriving on a Friday for a Sunday race. This is also going to be his first run out west and I just don’t like a horse that’s had to travel that distance and get on the track in less than 48 hours time.
One that’s caught my eye for the low end of my exotics is Winning Machine, who will likely carry the smallest amount of weight in the race and I could really fancy him if we have a competitive stretch drive. Gallyn Mitchell will be on top in lieu of Rickey Frazier and that switch puts me off backing him for the outright win.
Almost Time should also be in the running for this one and we’ll be anxiously awaiting to see the final line-up and post positions for Sunday’s race. We could see as many as four horses coming up from Emerald Downs so we’ll be sure to bring you an update later in the week.
Our early selection is a strong tip for Tommy Danzigger.
