Infinite Patience leads parade of Heads winners in BC Cup
BC Cup 2023 was memorable for trainer Barbara Heads in particular as she had starters in three of the six $50,000 BC Cup races on the Monday card and won them all under sunny skies and on a fast track.
Beginning with her stable star, Infinite Patience, whose BC Cup Distaff resembled an intramural scrimmage in that just three runners went to post and the seeming purpose was to give lessons to Infinite Patience. The two-time BC Horse of the Year was first nestled on the inside and just behind early pacesetter Bayakoa's Image and instead of asking his charge to engage in a pace battle, jockey Antonio Reyes took her back and ultimately around that foe. Soon after Infinite Patience dispensed of Bayakoa's Image, the other and more serious foe, We B Three, moved up to engage from the outside.
Much to the concern of favorite backers, jockey Reyes did anything but panic and instead allowed We B Three to loom menacingly during the final quarter-mile with Infinite Patience prevailing by a very measured half-length. In hindsight, the whip was used a total of 10 times on the runner-up while Reyes never bothered to draw his crop at all.
Infinite Patience is owned by William Decoursey and the R N H Stable and she covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.97 returning $2.80 to win.
The BC Cup Classic, also run at 1 1/16 miles, capped the day for Heads as her pupil At Attention won for the second time in three 2023 starts. Rated just off the pace by Reyes, At Attention awaited room outside the quarter pole and wore down pacesetter Soaringforthesun to win by a length in 1:44.75 for the 1 1/16 miles returning $6.30 to his backers. Another Heads trainee, Arollercoasterride, was third.
Second-time starter August Rain took the 6 1/2-furlong BC Cup Nursery for Heads after dueling for the early lead through spirited splits of 21.58 and 45.78, getting clear in the stretch, and then holding on by a desperate head returning $11.20 on the nose. First-time starter Diocles was second with Horatio a half-length back in third. Antonio Perez rode the winner and they covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:18.76.
The Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial determined the best local hope for the BC Derby on Sept. 16, with the Terry Jordan-trained Sunbird getting the victory. The son of Orb stalked the pace while handled confidently by Enrique Gonzalez, put away the other speed, turned for home with a clear lead, and held on by a comfortable 1 3/4 lengths.
Sunbird is owned by Pauline Felicella and the estate of Nick Felicella and he covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.44, paying $9.50 to his supporters.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap for 3-year-old fillies was taken by heavy favorite Air Force, who dueled early and then gained control before winning by a comfortable 1 1/2 lengths over longshot runner-up Matsqui. It was another half-length back to Key to Success in third. The winner paid $3.90 as the popular choice of the holiday crowd.
Monday's card began with the BC Cup Debutante, which drew a field of just four runners. Donna Wyn jumped to a clear early lead and was stalked intently by Lizzie's Rayne, who collared the speedster a quarter-mile out and then drew away to win by four lengths. Weekendindelmar finished well to be second with Donna Wyn getting third money.
Antonio Perez rode the David Milburn trainee, who paid $9.40 after finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.72.
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