Langley next step to derby

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Owner Thomas Bell is taking dead aim on both the Emerald Downs Breeders' Cup Derby and the British Columbia Derby, Sept 24.

Last Sunday, Bell won the Seattle Slew Breeders' Cup at Emerald with Alexandersrun. The Seattle Slew was the final prep for the Emerald Downs Breeders' Cup Derby, which will be run Sept. 5.

Sunday at Hastings, Bell has entered Appearance Fee in the $40,000 Langley Handicap. If Appearance Fee runs well, he would be pointed to the B.C. Derby. Appearance Fee would appear to have a big shot in the 1 1/16-miles feature, which drew seven 3-year-olds.

Appearance Fee, who is trained by John Snow, will be making his first start at Hastings. Appearance Fee is coming off of a rallying fourth-place finish in a 6 1/2-furlong $40,000 claiming race at Del Mar July 21. In an unorthodox move by his trainer at the time, Roger Stein, Appearance Fee was running back in seven days following a second-place finish in a $40,000 claimer on the turf July 14. He also worked four furlongs in 47.40 seconds between the races, on July 19. That's a pretty busy schedule for a lightly raced 3-year-old.

In his only other start on dirt, Appearance Fee won a $32,000 maiden race in his debut at Santa Anita March 30. He'll be ridden by Jake Barton.

Spaghetti Mouse is the lone stakes winner in the race. He led from start to finish in the Burnaby Breeders' Cup June 5.