August Rain will head a full field of 12 in the tradition-rich Grade 3 British Columbia Derby on Saturday at Hastings. The 1 1/8-mile fixture pits the Barbara Heads-trained favorite against nine foes he has beaten in the past and a pair that he has not. In fact, if you happen to be a big fan of one-time winner What’s Shakin, then you might march to the windows with conviction Saturday. What’s Shakin had a terrible start and then came from behind to miss by a head in the Sir Winston Churchill on Aug. 5. August Rain was another head back while finishing third in the only prior race where the pair faced off. What’s Shakin hails from the barn of Cindy Krasner. Emerald Downs invader Tougherthantherest, now in the local barn of John Snow, is the only one in the field who has yet to face August Rain in a race. Tougherthantherest did win a stakes event at Emerald on July 13, but it was a four-horse race that featured approximately zero pace competition for the son of Take Charge Indy. A runner-up finish in the Muckleshoot Derby over 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 11 at Emerald is what prompted his connections to ship north for Saturday’s contest. The most serious threat to August Rain is J Dutton, a Robert Anderson trainee who, in his only prior start at Hastings, finished a neck behind Saturday’s probable favorite on Aug. 5. That was before both shipped to Edmonton for the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Century Mile. In that event, August Rain came from the back and won by 2 3/4 lengths while J Dutton was a clear runner-up after having raced much nearer to the taxing early pace. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. Since returning, August Rain worked an easy half-mile last Sunday in 48.80 seconds. “I was happy about his work – he loves his job,” Heads said. A pair from Century Mile who are both new to Hastings are Lord of Battle, trained by Milton Palma, and Skipper’s Pride, trained by Karline Kingston. Lord of Battle helped set the early tempo in the Canadian Derby before backing up to be sixth, beaten 18 lengths, in just his second career start. Skipper’s Pride faded to finish 10th, beaten 43 1/2 lengths, in the same event. Diocles rates a decent chance on Saturday as he was the winner of the Sir Winston Churchill, although the Pat Jarvis trainee has finished behind August Rain on six other occasions. Another from the Canadian Derby field is Classy City, a Craig Smith trainee who finished fourth, beaten seven lengths by the winner. He tried the Hastings stakes ranks in the July 5 Chris Loseth Handicap, finishing sixth, beaten 14 3/4 lengths. Another B.C. Derby entrant, Shock the House, set the taxing pace in the Chris Loseth before finishing a distant seventh. The Brian O’Connell trainee since finished second over sloppy going in the CTHS Sales Stakes on Aug. 26. The final trio in the group each saw action in the maiden ranks during August. They include Moneyshot, Horatio, and Westminster. The supporting card includes the British Columbia Oaks at 1 1/8 miles as well as the Jack and Sadie Diamond futurities, each at 6 1/2 furlongs. The Oaks is headed by Avana, another Heads trainee who has dominated her division at Hastings this year. Recently returned from Edmonton, where she romped by 4 3/4 lengths in the Century Casino Oaks, Avana figures a very short price Saturday. Just a single foe has ever won going long, and that was 11 months ago. In the Sadie Diamond Futurity, a number of minimally experienced foes will face probable favorite Breezin Brianne, a Mel Snow charge who is now 3 for 3 with two stakes wins to her credit. The Jack Diamond Futurity is headed by Edmonton invader Puttingonthefoil, a two-time stakes winner from as many starts for trainer Gonzalo Anderson. Mount Doom and Chick Command, one-two in the CTHS Sales Stakes on Aug. 26, will defend the local turf. Chick Command is trained by Ian Jewell, while Mount Doom is a Steve Henson charge. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.