Calgary Caper goes from last to first in Premier's

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Calgary Caper came from last to first in the Grade 3, $100,000 Premier’s at Hastings on Monday. It was a thrilling finish with Calgary Caper holding off Brave Nation by a neck in the 1 3/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up.

Calgary Caper paid $12.80 and posted a final time of 2:17.47 over a track rated good.

With Sahin Civaci riding, Calgary Caper was well back while pacesetter Silent Eagle posted a quick half-mile time of 46.89 seconds. Calgary Caper started to get into the race at the half-mile pole, was on even terms with Silent Eagle at the quarter pole, took the lead at the top of the stretch, and was all out to hold off Brave Nation, who made a strong late move. Silent Eagle held on well to finish third, a neck behind Brave Nation.

A 7-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by El Corredor, Calgary Caper is trained by Phil Hall. He is owned by Hall, Lance Giesbrecht, and Kim Peacock.

Giesbrecht, a former trainer, was inducted into the British Columbia Hall of Fame in 2006. Calgary Caper was the champion local older horse in 2016, and with the win on Monday locked up the title again.

“I told Sahin not to move him until the quarter pole, so I was a bit surprised when he started his move at the half-mile pole” said Giesbrecht. “It worked out well, though. It’s been a hell of a ride. He was a good horse in 2016 and he’s better now. It’s always been fun to win and it always will be.”

“He shows up every time but he needs a pace to run at,” said Hall. “When my other horse broke bad I didn’t think they would be going very fast up front.”

Hall was referring to the 6-5 favorite Absolutely Stylish, who broke a step slowly and then got squeezed back at the start. He ended up finishing last.

With Absolutely Stylish out of the money and Day Raider in fourth, the 20 cent superfecta paid $5,347.

In the co-featured Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina, Victress also came from last to get up in the final yards and edge 40-1 longshot pacesetter Sailingforthesun by a neck. Top Quality finished third in the 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares.

The final time was 1:50.38. Victress paid $10 with the $2 exacta paying $269.30.

Trained by Rob Gilker, she was ridden by Amadeo Perez. Gilker owns the 5-year-old daughter of Include with his wife, Victoria.

“That was a good win for the mare because she is going to be bred next year,” said Gilker.