MacPherson eyes Canadian Derby with Day Raider

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – If trainer Craig MacPherson has his way, Day Raider will be making his next start in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park on Aug. 25. The four-turn 1 3/8-mile race just had its purse boosted from $150,000 to $200,000.

Day Raider ran like a horse who will thrive going around four turns when he won the $50,000 Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial at Hastings on Monday. With Antonio Reyes aboard, the Kentucky-bred son of New Year’s Day trailed the field early before finishing with a flourish to win the 1 1/16-mile race by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:44.80.

Day Raider is owned by Wally and Terry Leong of Canyon Farms.

“I haven’t talked it over with Wally and Terry yet, but I am leaning towards the Canadian Derby for his next race,” said MacPherson. “He came out of the race in excellent shape, and the way he trains and runs, a mile and three-eighths should be in his wheelhouse. He really lit it up in the lane in the Trial.”

Reyes agreed that Day Raider would handle the marathon distance of the Canadian Derby.

“He was just getting warmed up in the Trial,” he said.

It also makes a lot of sense for Day Raider to head out of town to avoid running against his stablemate Weekend Wizard in the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby on Sept. 8.

Weekend Wizard romped in the Chris Loseth the last time he ran at Hastings and then ran his eyeballs out while finishing second behind Sippin Fire in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby at Emerald Downs on July 29. The connections of Sippin Fire, who is the top 3-year-old at Emerald, said the horse will be staying home to run in the $50,000 Washington Cup Sophomore Stakes on Aug. 26.

The Trial was one of six stakes on B.C. Cup Day. Reyes won half of the stakes and two more races on the nine-race card.

“It was the best day of my career,” said Reyes.

His other two wins came in the 2-year-old races with longshots. First-time starter Dancin Shoes, trained by Barbara Heads, paid $81.10 for her shocking win in the Debutante. Wearing blinkers for the first time, Ring of Kerry paid $26.20 for his front-running win for leading trainer Phil Hall in the Nursery. Hall also won the Classic with Calgary Caper, who was ridden by Sahin Civaci.

Trainer John Morrison said Here’s Hannah came out of her easy front-running win in the Hong Kong Jockey Club in good shape and will be pointed to the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks on Sept. 8.

She was ridden by Richard Hamel, who brought Notis the Jewell from last to first in the Distaff for trainer Larry Fielding.

Here’s Hannah earned a 77 Beyer, which compares favorably to the 72 that Notis the Jewell received for her three-length win in the Distaff. They could face each other in the Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina on Oct. 8.

◗ Friday’s seven-race card begins at 7 p.m. Pacific.