Alert Bay draws post 5 for B.C. Derby

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Ten 3-year-olds were entered at Hastings on Wednesday for the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby. The 1 1/8-mile feature headlines a solid 10-race card Sunday that includes the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks.

The likely favorite, Alert Bay, will break from post No. 5 and should get a nice trip from a stalking position with Rico Walcott aboard. Walcott won the B.C. Derby last year aboard Title Contender for trainer Anita Bolton. Bolton trains Alert Bay for owner Peter Redekop, who is going for his third straight win in the most prestigious race at Hastings.

Alert Bay, the $200,000 Echo Eddie Stakes winner at Santa Anita, is the top money-earner in the field with $240,300.

Koffee Grinder, the probable second choice, drew the rail, where he could get bogged down with Richard Hamel riding. Trainer Craig MacPherson was hoping for a better post.

“I guess he’ll be okay,” said MacPherson. “At least he won’t be wide going into the first turn. I would have liked to have seen him in the middle of the field. Richard would have more options.”

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Emerald Downs Derby winner Mebossman drew post 2. He will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez. The runner-up, Del Rio Harbor, leaves from post 4 with Gallyn Mitchell aboard. He will be making his first start for trainer Marshall Allen.

Slice of Red, who upset Koffee Grinder in the $50,000 Richmond Derby Trial, drew the outside post. Keishan Balbogin retains the mount.

The rest of the field in post-position order: Wonder World, 3; Distillery, 6; Remembertobreathe, 7; Off the Top, 8; and Tapicero, 9.