B.C. Oaks a marquee race in its own right

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The $100,000 British Columbia Oaks is considered one of three supporting stakes to the Grade 3, $250,000 British Columbia Derby on Saturday at Hastings. However, the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies stands on its own merits, with a case to be made for any of the nine horses entered.

The Oaks goes as race 7 on the stellar 10-race card that begins at 12:50 p.m. Pacific. It also kicks off the late pick four, which has a $25,000-guaranteed pool. The pick four includes the B.C. Derby and the $50,000 S.W. Randall Plate for 3-year-olds and up. Kicking off the stakes festival is the $50,000 Delta Colleen for fillies and mares. The sensational Here’s Hannah will be favored, despite having to carry 130 pounds in the 1 1/8-mile race that drew nine horses.

The Oaks is deep, but will probably boil down to the best 3-year-old filly in Alberta, Im Evin Im Leavin; the runaway winner of the Washington Oaks, Killarney Lass; and the top two fillies at Hastings, Summerland and Sunburst.

Im Evin Im Leavin, trained by Greg Tracy, is coming off a win in the $100,000 Century Casino Oaks on Aug. 18 at Century Mile. Her win price of $8.60 was generous, considering she had finished a half-length behind Explode going the same distance in an allowance race on July 27 at Century Mile. Explode came back to win the Grade 3 Canadian Derby and will be one of the favorites in the B.C. Derby.

“I knew after her race with Explode she would be tough in the Oaks,” Tracy said. “She also showed she can stalk in the Oaks, and that is going to help her Saturday.”

A daughter of Can the Man, Im Evin Im Leavin will break from post 2 with Rico Walcott picking up the mount from Prayven Badrie.

“Prayven has done a great job riding her, but Rico has had a lot more experience riding on a bullring,” Tracy said.

The addition of a tongue tie turned things around for Killarney Lass, who since the change won two races by a combined 27 1/2 lengths at Emerald Downs.

Her latest win came going 1 1/8 miles in the $50,000 Washington Oaks, where she set an honest pace and just kept rolling.

“She came out of the Oaks really good,” trainer Frank Lucarelli said. “She can lay off the speed. As long as she doesn’t get into a battle with the jock, she’ll be fine.”

A daughter of Eskendereya, Killarney Lass will break from post 4 with Rigo Sarmiento up.

She arrived at Hastings on Wednesday evening and had her first look at the track Thursday morning.

“She settled in nicely and trained well over the track,” assistant trainer Dennis Snowden said.

Summerland will try to get back on track for trainer Phil Hall.

Prior to getting fried in a duel in the $50,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club on Aug. 5 at Hastings, the daughter of He’s Tops had been undefeated in Canada. She ran a better race to finish third in the Century Mile Oaks, especially considering jockey Enrique Gonzalez had a hard time staying on when she hit the gate hard at the break.

Summerland has one way of going. Hall was pleased when she drew the outside post, from where she will be undoubtedly gunned to the lead by Gonzalez.

“I like the draw,” said Hall. “We’re just going to let her roll and see how far she’ll go.”

The Barbara Heads-trained Sunburst wasn’t able to catch Summerland in $50,000 Supernaturel, but she took advantage of the hotly contested pace to win the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Sunburst should have plenty of speed to run at Saturday.

“She’s always done everything right but has really come into herself lately,” Heads said. “She’s versatile, and hopefully she can get the same kind of trip she had in her last race.”

Antonio Reyes will be up when she breaks from post 4.

Here’s Hannah on a roll

Last year’s Oaks winner Here’s Hannah is going for her eighth straight stakes win in the Delta Colleen. The only filly or mare in recent history that was able to carry 130 pounds successfully at Hastings was Monashee, who in 2006-07 won 11 stakes in a row, all for trainer Tracy McCarthy and owner Ole Nielsen.

Here’s Hannah appeared to struggle carrying high weight of 129 pounds when she won the B.C. Cup Distaff in her last start.

“It was a hot day, and I think she was looking around for some competition,” trainer John Morrison said. “She has trained extremely well, so I am expecting her to run her usual race.”

Richard Hamel has been aboard for all of her 11 wins, with her only loss coming when he wasn’t able to ride her. He was happy that she drew the outside post.

“Being outside is perfect for her,” Hamel said. “She is versatile, so it gives me a chance to see how the race is going to play out.”

He’s the Reason might be gone

He’s the Reason looks like the one to catch and beat in the $50,000 Randall Plate.

Trained and owned by Glen Todd, he was game in defeat to Calgary Caper after dueling through fast fractions in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Classic on Aug. 5.

He appears to be the lone speed in the Randall and should be tough to reel in with Hamel riding.

Calgary Caper, trained by Mark Cloutier, will be rolling late, but he needs help up front and may not get it.