Heads shifting stable to Century Mile; will be well-represented in Sunday stakes

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Barbara Heads is heading to Century Mile where she will have a strong presence with four possible starters on the biggest day of racing in Alberta on Sunday.

Foremost is Synergy, who could be favored in the Grade 3, $100,000 Canadian Derby. The 1 1/4-mile derby is supported by the $75,000 Century Mile Handicap for 3-year-olds and up, the $75,000 Century Casino Oaks, and the $75,000 Northlands Park Distaff for fillies and mares.

Synergy is perfect in three starts at Hastings this year and is coming off an impressive victory going a mile and a sixteenth in the $50,000 Sir Winston Churchill on Aug. 13.

“Synergy is such a relaxed horse and he didn’t really pick up the bit until the three-eighths pole in the Churchill,” said Heads. “He should do fine going a mile and a quarter.”

Heads also has strong hands in the Oaks and Distaff.

Infinite Patience will be heavily favored if she runs in the Oaks. Last year’s Horse of the Year in British Columbia, she may not start if Heads doesn’t like what she sees when Infinite Patience returns from Woodbine on Tuesday. Infinite Patience is coming off a sixth-place finish in the $250,000 Bison City on Sept. 12. She ran a good race to finish third in the $125,000 Fury in her first start on Tapeta on July 5, but came up empty and finished seventh after setting a wicked pace in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks on Aug. 15.

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Lorne Richards was her trainer in Ontario.

“Lorne said she is physically fine, but I want to see how she is mentally,” said Heads, who will arrive at Century on Thursday. “I know she was running against tougher competition at Woodbine, but I honestly don’t think she cared for the Tapeta. Some horses like it and some just don’t.”

Heads will also start Sangria in the Oaks. In her only start outside of British Columbia, Sangria won the $75,000 Freedom of the City at Century Downs last year. In her most recent start, she finished fourth in the $50,00 Hong Kong Jockey Club at Hastings on Aug. 9.

“She’s a big filly and might like the mile track,” said Heads. “She liked the surface at Century Downs last year, so I am hoping the same goes for Century Mile.”

Sunburst will receive a lot of support in the Distaff. She won the $40,000 Red Tail landing in her only race at Century Mile while making her first start this year. In her final start of 2019 she was the runner-up to Here’s Hannah in the Grade 3 Ballerina. The 4-year-old daughter of Sungold will go into the Distaff off a runner-up finish behind Here’s Hannah in an open allowance race at Hastings on Sept. 6. Here’s Hannah won the Sovereign Award for the top older filly or mare in Canada last year.

With three racing days left at Hastings this year, Heads is not just going to Century for the big day. She plans to remain in Alberta until the Century meet ends on Nov. 8.

“I am going to have a dozen horses there,” she said.

Heads has one horse entered at Hastings on Wednesday, and has an excellent chance of winning the seventh with Just Make Believe, who will be ridden in the $5,000 maiden claimer by leading rider Amadeo Perez.