MacPherson undecided on next start for Bluegrass Angus

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Bluegrass Angus passed his first test going a middle distance with flying colors in the $50,000 Chris Loseth Handicap at Hastings last Wednesday. What was impressive about his three-length win over Brother Duster was how he was able to sit just off an extremely fast pace and then go into another gear when jockey Richard Hamel gave him his cue heading into the third turn of the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds. In an instant, the race was over when Bluegrass Angus went from second to opening up a clear lead on the stretch turn.

Trainer Craig MacPherson was one of the many onlookers who had their heads turned when Bluegrass Angus made his eye-catching move.

“I really didn’t know if he would go that far,” said MacPherson. “For him to make that move after chasing a 45-and-change half-mile was pretty impressive.”

The main goal for Bluegrass Angus is the Grade 3, $250,000 British Columbia Derby on Sept. 13. MacPherson isn’t sure what path to take to get him there. The only race at Hastings for 3-year-olds who aren’t British Columbia-breds prior to the Derby is the Richmond Derby Trial on Aug. 21.

Bluegrass Angus has been a work in progress for MacPherson. He is a high-strung horse who is just starting to settle in at Hastings, and MacPherson isn’t too excited about the prospect of shipping him to another track.

“We finally got him where we want him, and I don’t know how he would handle going to another track,” said MacPherson. “He’s shipped all over the country, so I’m not worried about the trip. I’m just not sure how he’ll take to being stabled somewhere else.”

There really aren’t many options for MacPherson at the nearest track, Emerald Downs. The next stakes for 3-year-olds there is the Seattle Slew Handicap on July 12, which is a prep for the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby on Aug. 9.

MacPherson didn’t sound too interested in sending Bluegrass Angus to Northlands Park for the $50,000 Fred Jones on July 18 or the 1 3/8-mile, $200,000 Canadian Derby on Aug. 15.

“I really don’t think he is a mile-and-three-eighths horse, and that race can take a lot out of a horse,” said MacPherson.

One option is running Bluegrass Angus against older horses in the $100,000 Redekop Classic on B.C. Cup Day on Aug. 3. The Redekop Classic is restricted to horses bred or owned in British Columbia.

“The timing is good, but there are a couple of very nice older horses here, and I don’t want him to lose the confidence he has right now,” said MacPherson. “We might just freshen him up and point him to the Derby Trial.”

The couple of older horses MacPherson was referring to are Mr. Bowling and Modern, who put on quite a show in the $50,000 Lieutenant Governor’s on Wednesday.

Modern set quick fractions and tried to fight back when Mr. Bowling collared him in midstretch in the 1 1/16-mile race. Mr. Bowling ultimately prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths, and the final time he posted was an excellent 1:42.74, just a couple of ticks off the track record of 1:42 1/5 set by Coral Isle in 1973. He was ridden by Mario Gutierrez.

Trainer Troy Taylor is leaning toward the Redekop Classic as the next start for Mr. Bowling.

“It’s either the Classic or the Longacres Mile,” said Taylor.

According to trainer Dino Condilenios, Modern came out of the race in good shape and could make his next start in the Classic.

“He was a bit stressed right after the race, but it was because of the heat,” said Condilenios. “All of the horses I ran came back the same way. They just aren’t used to running when it’s that hot. They all bounced back quickly, though.”