Hastings: Second City upsets British Columbia Derby, stays unbeaten

Four-Footed Fotos

Second City wins the British Columbia Derby to remain undefeated in four races.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Second City remained undefeated with an upset win in the Grade 3, $200,000 British Columbia Derby at Hastings on Sunday.

He paid $13.80 as the second choice in the 11-horse field of 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles.

Second City also showed a new dimension by coming from well off the pace to beat Devil in Disguise by 2 3/4 lengths. Devil in Disguise was part of a heavily favored three-horse Troy Taylor-trained and Glen Todd-owned entry that included Hoist who forced the pace and finished third and Taylors Deal who rallied to finish fourth.

In his three previous wins, Second City had never been headed. Jockey Richard Hamel didn’t panic after Second City broke a half-step slow and was shuffled back just after leaving the starting gate.

“He just missed the break and then horses on his outside came over and shut him off,” Hamel said. “He seemed comfortable back there, and I didn’t want to force the issue. He started picking up horses at the three-eighths pole, and I figured I better start looking for a place to go with him. I had a lot of horse, so I just went wide.”

Trainer Craig MacPherson was expecting Second City to be involved right from the start and was surprised when he trailed the field after a hotly contested quarter-mile in 22.56 seconds. He only had one horse beat after a half-mile in 46.30 and was still ninth after six furlongs in 1:11.25.

“I was in a bit of shock,” MacPherson said. “I got pretty excited when he started to pick up horses though.”

Second City was purchased privately by Peter Redekop after he won his second start at Charles Town. It was Redekop’s second win in the Grade 3 race. He won with Squire Jones in 1994.

“This was more exciting than when I won it with Squire Jones,” Redekop said. “The plan was to be on or near the lead, so for him to win the way he did was unbelievable.”

The final time was 1:50.94.

The field was reduced to 11 horses after Italian Boy flipped in the paddock and was scratched by the track veterinarian.

The total handle for the 10-race card was $1,402,842, a 21 percent increase over last year’s B.C. Derby day total of $1,157,375.