Keen interest expected for sale

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - All indicators point to a successful yearling and mixed sale, sponsored by the British Columbia division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society.

The sale, which begins at 2 p.m. Tuesday, will be held at the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, a suburb of Vancouver. There is also a barbecue and a yearling parade at Thunderbird beginning at 4 p.m. Monday.

Dixie Jacobson, president of the local CTHS, can only be categorized as an optimist, but even more so going into this year's sale.

"Any time there's even been a glimmer of hope surrounding the future of racing in B.C. the sale has been strong," she said. "With the approval of slot machines at Hastings and the expected increase in purses in the near future, I'm pretty sure that we'll have an excellent sale."

Jacobson's daughter, Toni Cloutier, trains horses, and according to Jacobson, Cloutier has been approached by people who have been out of the business for a while and are looking to get back in.

"Toni has been approached by a couple of groups interested in buying yearlings, and there's just such a positive feeling around the track these days that I just can't imagine anything but the best sale we've had in a long time," Jacobson said.

There are 184 horses entered in the sale, and the majority, 164, are yearlings.

In addition to the 170 horses cataloged, there are 14 supplementary nominations that can be viewed at the CTHS website, cthsbc.org.

One of the supplements figures to attract a lot of attention. Hip No. 171 is by Vying Victor out of Hot Ginger, and that makes her a full sister to Dancewithavixen. A 4-year-old filly, Dancewithavixen has won slightly more than $498,000 and is considered among the greatest fillies or mares ever bred in British Columbia.

Hip No. 17 is a yearling colt out of Kellahan. She has produced stakes winners Kalfaari and Jamaari Girl. Kalfaari, who died while in training at Assiniboia Downs this year, was one of the best sprinters in western Canada. He won 15 races, including eight stakes, and had career earnings of $232,964. The yearling already has a name, Rocket Boy, and he's by Alybro, a stakes winner of $210,971.

A half-brother to Lord Nelson is also up for sale. The chestnut colt by Baquero goes as Hip No. 23. Lord Nelson has been the handicap champ in British Columbia for the last three years and is a leading candidate again this season.

Leading sire Vying Victor is well represented with nine of his progeny in the sale.

Organ Grinder takes a pass

According to trainer Sid Attard, Organ Grinder probably won't ship out for the B.C. Derby. In his last start, Organ Grinder, who is based at Woodbine, won the $250,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park despite going four wide around all four turns.

"He didn't handle the ship that well," said Attard. "The hard race and long ship took a lot out of him and I'm just not sure if he'll bounce back in time for the B.C. Derby. I sent him to the farm for a little rest and we'll make up our minds in the next week or so. But right now I don't think we're coming."

Controlled Meeting finished second to Organ Grinder by a short head and is reportedly coming for the derby. He has won three races, including the Ky Alta Stakes at Northlands Park, and has earned $104,204. He's trained by Robert Diodoro.

* Jockeys Jake Barton and Patricia Trimble have come back to ride at Hastings. Both were riding full-time at Fort Erie this year, and with the early closure there for track renovations, they decided to return to Hastings, where they've both had success in the past.