B.C. Derby could set up Muckleshoot rematch

Sippin Fire and Weekend Wizard came out of their epic duel in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby last Sunday in good shape and could meet again in the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby at Hastings on Sept. 8. The Muckleshoot Derby was the first leg of the Northwest Triple, which also includes the B.C. Derby and the $100,000 Getaway Stakes at Emerald on Sept. 23. If Sippin Fire wins the final two races in the Triple, he would receive a $100,000 bonus.

The 1 1/8-mile Muckleshoot Derby set up perfectly for Sippin Fire, who edged Weekend Wizard by three-quarters of a length. With Rocco Bowen aboard, the Washington-bred Sippin Fire was able to settle in midpack while Weekend Wizard was dueling through quick interior fractions with 60-1 longshot Freiburg, who ended up last. Sippin Fire and Weekend Wizard hooked up at the top of the lane and, after battling the length of the stretch, Sippin Fire emerged the winner.

Immediately following the race Bowen said, “Canada here we come.”

The seemingly logical next start for Sippin Fire, who is trained by Steve Bullock, is the B.C. Derby, but according to Joe Withee nothing has been determined. Withee, the director of publicity at Emerald, is part of the stable How We Roll #4, the owner of Sippin Fire.

“We are going to meet this weekend to decide where to run him next,” said Withee. “We nominated him to the Mile, but he probably won’t run there.”

Withee was referring to the Grade 3, $200,000 Longacres Mile for 3-year-olds and up on Aug. 12. The premier race at the meet, it closed with 17 nominations including last year’s winner, Gold Rush Dancer. Withee mentioned the $50,000 Washington Cup Sophomore on Aug. 28 as a possibility for Sippin Fire.

“It’s six weeks between races if he goes straight to the B.C. Derby,” he said. “The problem with the Washington Cup is that he’ll be coming back in two weeks at Hastings, and then two weeks after that for the Getaway. I am voting for the B.C. Derby, but we’ll know more after Friday.”

Weekend Wizard’s trainer Craig MacPherson said he would like to see Weekend Wizard come back in the B.C. Derby. Weekend Wizard is owned by Alberta-based Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd., so the Grade 3, $150,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park on Aug. 25 is on the table.

“I don’t think you can do both,” said MacPherson. “It would be asking a lot of him to go a mile and three eighths in Edmonton and come back in two weeks in the B.C. Derby. He came out of the race in great shape and I’ll sit down with the owners in the next couple of days to see where we’re headed.”

◗ Daytona Beach and Kota Copy look like the main players in a $10,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up that will serve as Friday’s feature (race 6) at Emerald. Post time for the first of seven races is 6:30 p.m. Pacific.