Big Hug gets big win in Distaff Handicap

Big Hug got a big hug after winning the $50,000 Distaff Handicap on Saturday at Century Mile.

“You betcha,” trainer Rick Hedge said. “She likes hugs and she likes cookies.”

The Distaff Handicap was part of the $350,000 Alberta Breeders’ Fall Classic series on the closing-day card at Century Mile. It’s made up of seven stakes, with all of the races worth $50,000 each and restricted to horses bred in Alberta, Canada.

Big Hug ($2.50) was the 126-pound highweight in the Distaff Handicap, which was for fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles. She tracked pacesetter Dance Shoes as that one set fractions of 23.69 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.37 for the half-mile. Big Hug put a head in front through six furlongs in 1:11.21 and from there increased her advantage to the wire. She won by four lengths over Monopolize while covering the distance on a track rated fast in 1:43.72.

Rafael Zenteno Jr. was aboard the winner for Hedge.

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Big Hug has won multiple awards for Alberta-breds, as she was the breed registry’s 2022 champion 2-year-old filly and 2023 champion 3-year-old filly. She was returning to the Alberta-bred ranks after running third in the Northlands Handicap won by the win machine Infinite Patience on Aug. 24 at Century Mile.

Big Hug is now 10 for 16 on the surface at Century Mile and overall has a record of 11 wins from 19 starts for earnings of $273,908. The daughter of the Dynaformer stallion Mr. Big races for Empire Equestrian and Kerredge Farm.

Triple for Zenteno

Zenteno rode two other stakes winners on the card. He captured the Beaufort for 3-year-olds aboard J J’s Caper. The pair tracked the pace set by Itsallgoodman before edging that one by a half-length. J J’s Caper returned $9.80. He is by Cape Canaveral and races for Jim Juris and is trained by David Nicholson. The winner covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.91.

Zenteno guided Destin to Be Great ($48.90) to a last-to-first win in the Alberta Oaks. She won by 2 1/4 lengths over Jodeys Lil Pain and covered the 1 1/16 miles on a track rated wet-fast later on the card, beginning with the eighth race. Destin to Be Great is by Destin, races for Willow Creak Farms, and is trained by Robert Kingston.

Alberta Breeders’

Smart Play won the Alberta Breeders’ Handicap, which is for 3-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles, for the second year in a row. He dominated by 4 1/2 lengths over 27-1 shot Brody’s Pal.

Smart Play ($9.80) took over through a half-mile in 48.49 and continued to lead through six furlongs in 1:12.63 before finishing the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:45.51. N’Rico Prescod was aboard for trainer Jerri Robertson, who co-owns Smart Play with Tim Kane Jr., Lesley Hardy and Heather Chieffo.

Flashfordani, who was the even-money favorite, finished fourth.

Smart Play is a son of Smarty Jones, who in 2004 won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

*** Solo Ring ($3.90) stalked the pace en route to a 3 3/4-length win over Common Knowledge in the Red Diamond Express for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs. The winner covered the distance in 1:10.35. Kyle Carter was aboard the son of Where’s the Ring for Hurley Racing Stable and trainer Deanna Walper.

*** Smoke Daddy ($11.60) was a 4 1/2-length winner over the late-running favorite G T Sir Ray in the Premier Futurity at six furlongs. Keihton Natera was aboard the winner, who covered the distance on a wet-fast track 1:10.76. Greystone Farms, Lori Guhle and John Guhle own the son of Flameaway, who is trained by Madison Zielke.

*** No More Lies ($3.60) won her maiden in the Sturgeon River Stakes for 2-year-old fillies when she darted to a three-quarter-length victory over Najas Princess. She covered six furlongs on a wet-fast track in 1:11.48. Jose Asencio was aboard for trainer Tim Rycroft. No More Lies is a daughter of Fed Biz, who races for Stetson In., Ryan Stetson, Stetson Enterprises and Everblack Cattle.

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