Bluegrass Angus gives MacPherson another shot at B.C. Derby

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Craig MacPherson will try to win his second British Columbia Derby on Sunday. If he wins the Grade 3, $250,000 race with Bluegrass Angus, it will be a little sweeter than his first victory with Second City.

MacPherson only had Second City in his barn for a few weeks prior to winning the 2012 Derby. The horse was purchased by Peter Redekop specifically for the Derby, and despite getting away to a poor start, he rallied to win by 2 3/4 lengths over Devil in Disguise. MacPherson didn’t have Second City for long, as Redekop sold him to J. Paul Reddam a couple of weeks after the Derby.

In contrast, MacPherson has been the trainer of Bluegrass Angus since he arrived at Hastings as a 2-year-old last year. Chad Joe, who races under the stable name Copper Water Thoroughbred Co., purchased the Florida-bred for $5,000 out of the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale.

“Considering what we paid for him, it will be very rewarding if he wins,” said MacPherson. “I barely got to know Second City, and I’ve had a lot of input with this guy.”

Bluegrass Angus hasn’t finished worse than second for MacPherson. The only blemish on his record came when he finished eighth in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid for trainer Pat Parente at Gulfstream Park in January in his first start as a 3-year-old.

He has won the last three open stakes for 3-year-olds at Hastings and likely will be the second choice behind the 3-year-old filly Academic in the Derby. Academic won the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks and is coming off an impressive win over the boys in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park.

Bluegrass Angus has been a work in progress for MacPherson. He has a mind of his own, and in his first start at Hastings this year, he put on quite a show in the paddock prior to finishing second in the Jim Coleman Province Stakes.

“He was completely out of control,” said MacPherson. “He has really settled down though, and I love the way he is coming up to the race.”

MacPherson gives a lot of credit for Bluegrass Angus’s changed demeanor to Buttercup, the stable’s pony.

“I call him the Big Yellow Taxi,” said MacPherson. “Angus is just a much happier horse when he’s with him.”

Joe will be at Hastings on Sunday, but he also will be closely watching the $1 million Woodbine Mile, where he has a chance of winning with Reporting Star.

“There are a couple of reasons why I’m going to be at Hastings and not Woodbine,” said Joe. “If Reporting Star wins, I’ll go see him in the Breeders’ Cup. Plus, we’ve had Angus since he was a baby, and it would be nice to see him through.”

Reporting Star was one of the first horses Joe bought when he became involved as an owner in 2013. He finished third in the 2013 B.C. Derby and improved substantially as an older horse, being voted the champion Florida-bred turf horse in 2014. In his last start, he won the Grade 2, $200,000 Play the King going seven furlongs on turf at Woodbine.

Redekop’s three-race win streak in the B.C. Derby won’t be extended. In addition to Second City in 2012, Redekop won the B.C. Derby with Title Contender in 2013 and Alert Bay last year. Title Contender and Alert Bay were trained by Anita Bolton.

Redekop recently purchased Parx allowance winner Hollywood Angel, who arrived at Bolton’s barn a few weeks ago to prepare for the race. However, he came out of his five-furlong work Sept. 4 with a minor problem and won’t be running.

The B.C. Derby drew nine horses and will be supported by three stakes, including the $100,000 B.C. Oaks.