Notis the Jewell streaks into B.C. Cup Distaff

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – When owner-trainer Bill McLaren agreed to lease Notis the Jewell from Larry Fielding last winter, he was hoping to win a race or two and hopefully break even for the year.

His main concern now is the amount of taxes he’s going to have to pay on the $133,744 she’s earned for winning four straight races, including the Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina in her last start. The 4-year-old daughter of Stephanotis is clearly the one to beat in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Distaff for fillies and mares bred or sired in British Columbia or Washington on Sunday at Hastings.

Also featured on the eight-race closing-day card are the $50,000 B.C. Cup Classic, the $50,000 B.C. Cup Debutante for 2-year-old fillies, and $50,000 B.C. Cup Nursery for 2-year-olds.

Notis the Jewell was just another horse until she stretched out to 1 1/16 miles for the first time in a $16,000 conditional claiming race July 15. With Kerron Khelawan aboard, she came from last to romp by 6 1/2 lengths.

“She won so easily and K.K. never touched her with his stick,” McLaren said. “So, I gave her a shot in the Distaff and the rest is history.”

Notis the Jewell paid $24.80 when she won the $50,000 Pacific Customs Brokers Distaff with Khelawan riding again. With leading rider Richard Hamel picking up the mount, she also paid decent prices in the $50,000 Delta Colleen and Ballerina. She will be a short price in the 1 1/8-mile Distaff, which drew six horses.

“I thought she was in tough when the horse from California (She’s a Warrior) came for the Ballerina,” McLaren said. “I couldn’t believe when she won by almost three lengths. She came out of the Ballerina in great shape, so we’ll run her one more time before turning her out for the winter. The lease runs out at the end of the year, and hopefully we’ll be able to work something out. I would love to have her back.”

A deep closer, Notis the Jewell will break from post 4 with Hamel riding again.

Exit City Slew also is on a roll with five wins in six starts at Emerald Downs this year. In her last start for trainer Blaine Wright, she upset heavily favored Citizen Kitty in the $50,000 Washington Cup Filly and Mare on Aug. 27.

She has speed, but can stalk, and should get a nice trip from a forward position after breaking from post 4 with Amadeo Perez riding.

She’s been stabled at Hastings with trainer John Snow since the end of September.

“She’s certainly training well and seems to like the track,” Snow said. “Blaine owns her, so she will run under his name.”

Yukon Belle rallied to finish second over a sloppy track in the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks before forcing the issue early in her fourth-place finish in the Ballerina. She should get a wet track Sunday.

The 3-year-old filly by Drosselmeyer is trained by Barbara Heads. Heads was recently voted into the British Columbia Thoroughbred Horse Racing Hall of Fame along with jockey Gerry Olguin and Roscoe Pito, who ranks fourth all time among British Columbia-breds in purse money won.

Raider tops Debutante

Raider inherits the role of favorite in the Debutante. Here’s Hannah would have been odds-on to win the 6 1/2-furlong dash, but she came up with a minor injury following her four-furlong work Oct. 14 and has been turned out for the year.

Trained by Greg Tracy, Raider was the runner-up to Here’s Hannah in the $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity on Sept. 9 and the $100,000 Fantasy on Sept. 30. In the 1 1/16-mile Fantasy, she went around three turns for the first time.

Wise Market and Weekend Wizard are the main players in the 6 1/2-furlong Nursery.

Wise Market, trained by Phil Hall, was game in winning the $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity and 1 1/16-mile $100,000 Ascot Graduation.

Weekend Wizard got off to a poor start as the favorite in the Futurity, but he came back to romp by 8 1/4 lengths in a maiden special weight race for trainer Craig MacPherson on Sept. 24.