Noblety the Trial's mystery horse

VANCOUVER, British Columbia Krazy Koffee and Forest Prince have secured their spots in the starting gate for the $250,000 B.C. Derby. The other four 3-year-olds entered in the $50,000 Richmond Derby Trial at Hastings on Sunday will need a win in order to get into the Grade 3 derby, which goes on Sept. 21.

Noblety will be making his first start on the West Coast in the 1 1/16-mile feature. Noblety won a $25,000 maiden race at Penn National by 24 lengths on June 5. That was the last time he ran on dirt. He came back to win an entry-level allowance race on the turf on July 2 and then finished last of eight in a restricted stakes on grass at Saratoga on Aug. 1.

According to his trainer, Toni Cloutier, Noblety was pretty tired after making the long trip from New York to Vancouver. He has sharpened up in the past few days, however, and she is expecting a good effort on Sunday.

He just arrived here so we really dont know much about him, she said. He is a big, strong horse, though.

Frank Fuentes rides Noblety.

Krazy Koffee, who is trained by Cindy Krasner, has won the last two stakes for 3-year-olds at Hastings, but might not be the favorite in the Trial. The honor could go to Forest Prince.

Trained by Troy Taylor, Forest Prince has won both of his starts at Hastings and in his latest he beat Ookashada, a 4-year-old multiple stakes winner. Forest Prince will need an honest pace to work with and it is expected that his uncoupled stablemate, Valdero, will be sent right to the front.

Krazy Koffee, who also does his best running late, certainly wont mind a quick pace.