Lord Nelson tries for repeat in Classic

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - B.C. Cup Day, featuring eight races restricted to B.C.-breds, seven of them stakes, is scheduled for this Monday afternoon at Hastings with the first post set for 2:23 pm.

Clearly the highlight of the day will be the match-up between Lord Nelson and Kid Katabatic in the $65,000 B.C. Cup Classic. The six other added money races are worth $50,000 each.

Lord Nelson was an easy winner of the Classic in 2001, and Kid Katabatic overcame a poor start to win it the previous year. Lord Nelson will likely be favored off of his powerful performance in the Lieutenant Governors' July 1 where he scored a 2 1/2-length victory over Jazzy Yacht. Kid Katabatic, who was sent off as the even-money favorite finished third. Lord Nelson was bred by his owners, Russell and Lois Bennett and is trained by Dino Condilenios.

Always a Dixie in Distaff

The Bennett's also have a good chance at winning the 1 1/8-mile Distaff with another homebred, Always a Dixie. She has won two stake races at Emerald this year and finished a troubled third in the Boeing Handicap July 21. She's trained by Barb Heads. The one standing in her way could be Grey Tobe Free. She finished behind Always a Dixie in all three of her starts at Emerald this year. However, she was an easy six-length winner of the Brighouse Belles at Hastings July 6 and in her previous local outing, she cruised to an eight-length win in the Grade 3 Ballerina Breeders' Cup last fall.

* Elana D'Amour should go favored over Lady Vye and Grace For You in the 3-year-old fillies division of the 1 1/16-mile Stallion Stakes.

* Silver Donn rides a three-race win streak into the colts and geldings division of the Stallion Stakes. He was a handy winner of the Burnaby Breeders' Cup June 29 in his last outing. No Time Flat looks like his main competitor.

* King Jeremy and April Surprise look like the fastest ones in the 6 1/2-furlong Sprint. King Jeremy just missed to Work Visa in the Hong Kong Jockey Club July 20. April Surprise has only started once this year and finished in front of King Jeremy while placing third in an allowance sprint at Emerald July 4.

* Both the Nursery, for 2-year-old colts and geldings, and the Debutante, 2-year-old fillies, appear to be wide open. Breeder-owner-trainer Tom Longstaff has good chances in both races. Don't Pali Me could go favored in the Nursery and his coupling of Rainbows Forever and Dancewithavixen should receive plenty of support in the Debutante.