Chief Know It All headed for Zia Park Derby

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Robertino Diodoro reported that Chief Know It All came out of his thrilling win in the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby in excellent shape and would be pointed to the $200,000 Zia Park Derby on Nov. 22.

The Sept. 9 B.C. Derby lived up to its billing as a great race. A photo was needed to separate the first three finishers, with Chief Know It All winning the 1 1/8-mile race by a nose over Trooper John. Riser was game in defeat, finishing a neck behind Trooper John after setting quick fractions over the sloppy surface.

“I’m still excited about the race,” said Diodoro. “I’ve watched the replay about a hundred times.”

Chief Know It All is still at Hastings, but Diodoro said he would be given a break before he went back into serious training.

“We’ll let him rest in Phoenix,” he said. “He’s had two hard races in a short span, so we want to do what’s best for the horse.”

Chief Know It All was coming off a win in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby on Aug. 19. It was his first start for Diodoro, who had claimed him for $100,000 at Churchill Downs on June 30. Diodoro won the 2011 Zia Park Derby with First Strike, whom he had claimed for $40,000 at Santa Anita out of his previous race. He finished third last year with Inside Straight, who was beaten less than a lengths.

“We should have won the Zia Derby last year, but Inside Straight had a brutal trip,” said Diodoro. “He only got beat by three-quarters of a length and would have won for fun with any kind of trip.”

Inside Straight went on to pull off a huge upset in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 15.

Daz Lin Dawn to get winter off

Daz Lin Dawn will get a break following a spectacular meet at Hastings where she won all seven stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

According to jockey Richard Hamel she didn’t care for the track when she edged Yukon Belle by a neck in the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks last Saturday.

“She won on heart,” said Hamel.

“She’s done enough,” said trainer Nancy Betts. “She’s going home sound. We’ll give her the winter off and bring her back next year.”

Trainer Barbara Heads said that Yukon Belle will be pointed to the Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina Stakes on Oct. 8 at Hastings.

Also heading to the Ballerina is Notis the Jewell, who proved her upset win for owner-trainer Bill McLaren in the Pacific Customs Brokers Classic was no fluke when she beat heavily favored Victress in the $50,000 Delta Colleen.

“I was thinking of taking her to Phoenix, but if she wins the Ballerina I’ll have enough money for me to spend the winter there instead,” said McLaren.