Brave Nation rallies to upset in Premier's Stakes

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Brave Nation rallied from well back to upset the Grade 3, $100,000 Premier’s at Hastings on Sunday. Sent off as the longest price in the five-horse field, he paid $21.50 for his 1 1/4-length victory over Final Jeopardy.

Antonio Reyes allowed Brave Nation to settle early while He’s the Reason posted a quick half-mile time of 46.36 seconds in the 1 3/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. He started to make his presence known at the mile mark, moved into a striking position on the stretch turn, and closed strongly from along the rail to win going away. Final Jeopardy also settled early, moved into serous contention going down the backstretch the final time, took over the lead on the stretch turn, but couldn’t hold off the winner. Explode was closest to the early pace, loomed a threat on the stretch turn, but hung.

The final time was 2:18.00.

“He was nice and relaxed and when I saw the 23 and 46 [seconds] on the tote board, I knew they were going too fast for a mile and three eighths,” said Reyes. “I waited as long as I could, and when I asked him to run, he moved really good.”

It was the first stakes win for the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Pioneerof the Nile.

The John Snow trainee was the runner-up to Calgary Caper by a neck in the 2018 Premier’s.

Brave Nation is owned by Gordon Christoff.