Hastings: Baze guides Class Included to British Columbia Oaks victory

Four-Footed Fotos

Class Included gets a perfectly timed ride from Russell Baze in the British Columbia Oaks.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Russell Baze showed why he has won the most races in the world with a perfect ride aboard Class Included  in the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks at Hastings on Sunday.

Sitting in stalking position for the first six furlongs in the 1 1/8-mile  race, Baze started to ask Class Included for some run approaching the quarter pole. Class Included ($5.60) responded with a strong move and took the lead on the stretch turn before drawing off to win by four lengths over Castinette Dancer. Overvalued set the early pace and held on to finish third.

“I thought there might be a little more pace in there, but I was able to place this filly wherever I wanted,” said Baze. “When I stepped out from behind them and asked her to run she just went on with it. Actually, I had a little more horse than I needed early.”

Trainer Jim Penney said he would consider looking at the Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina at Hastings on Oct. 2 for Class Included’s  next start.

“She is a lightly raced filly and needs some time between races,” said Penney. “We’ll see how she comes out of the race before we decide where she is going to run next.”

The final time was 1:50.50.

A Kentucky-bred filly by Include, Class Included was bred by her owners Michael and Amy Feuerborn.  A Classic Life, the dam of Class Included, finished fourth in the Grade 3 Ballerina at Hastings in 2006 for the Feuerborns.

* Bonboni came from just off the pace to win the $50,000 Derby Bar and Grill Express for 3-year-olds and up by a half-length over Taylor Said. Trained by Steve Henson and ridden by Richard Hamel, Bonboni paid $9.30. Final time for the six furlongs was 1:09.97.

Heavily favored Classic Alley Kat ($3.70) was an easy winner of the $50,000 Ladies Bar and Grill Express for fillies and mares. Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Classic Alley Kat dueled with Cliff’s Secret before pulling away to win by 3 ¾  lengths over Daymaker ,who came from last. Cliff’s Secret held on to finish third.

Classic Alley Kat is trained by Elizabeth Stolzenberg and owned by Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella, who also own Taylor Said. Todd owns the Derby Bar and Grill Restaurant and sponsored the two sprints by putting up half the purse money.

* Stolzenberg also won the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes for Todd and Kinsella with Herescomelucky, who paid $5.80 as the favorite in the nine-horse field of 2-year-old geldings. With Gutierrez aboard, Herescomelucky came from off the pace to win by two lengths over longshot Joint Choice ,who set the pace. Alberta Breeze made a late move to get up for third.

The final time for 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:18.58.

* Gabigotherway upset heavily favored Sunnyside Gal to win the fillies division of the CTHS Sales Stakes with Richard Hamel aboard. Trained by John Morrison, Gabigotherway paid $8.80 as the second choice in the wagering.

The final time 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:17.84.