With PNE over, the real racing begins

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Local horse racing fans are happy to have the annual fair at the Pacific National Exhibition over. The fair is held on the same site as Hastings, and the infield is used as a parking lot for the large crowds. Racing isn’t held on weekends during PNE, and Friday will be the first day of normalcy following a week’s hiatus from racing.

The seven-race card, which begins at 7 p.m., is a good one, with competitive races headed by a $16,000 claimer for fillies and mares who have not won three races. Krissy looks like the one to catch and beat in the 6 1/2-half furlong dash, which drew nine horses.

What really has the locals excited having the PNE over is that it marks the beginning of a series of championship races beginning Saturday with the biggest of all, the Grade 3, $250,000 British Columbia Derby.

The derby is supported by the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks, the $50,000 Delta Colleen for fillies and mares, and the $50,000 S.W. Randall Plate for 3-year-olds and up. Each race drew nine horses.

Owner Peter Redekop donated $100,000 to the purse of the derby and will try to get some of his money back with Final Jeopardy, who should be favored in the 1 1/8-mile race.

Redekop was hoping for a quick return on his investment when Final Jeopardy ran in the $250,000 Canadian Derby on Aug. 18 at Century Mile. Redekop and his nephew James Redekop purchased the son of Street Sense for an undisclosed sum prior to the Canadian Derby. Final Jeopardy was coming off a runner-up finish behind subsequent Grade 1 Travers winner Code of Honor in the Grade 3 Dwyer, so he didn’t come cheap.

However, the Canadian Derby didn’t work out as planned when Final Jeopardy, now trained by Phil Hall, got slammed leaving the starting gate. After being well back early, he rallied to finish third.

With a better start he could be formidable Saturday.

Final Jeopardy is a colt and could end up having value as a stallion. His younger brother Gouverneur Morris lived up to the hype surrounding him when he romped in his debut on Monday at Saratoga. The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Constitution appears to have a bright future.

The Oaks features a matchup among the top 3-year-old fillies in British Columbia, Alberta, and maybe Washington.

Trainer Frank Lucarelli said he was having trouble finding a way to get Killarney Lass across the border. Killarney Lass is coming off a 9 3/4-length romp in the $50,000 Washington Oaks on Aug. 11.

“We had everything set to go Tuesday, but the van driver got into an accident and might not be able to drive her up,” Lucarelli said. “Nobody else seems to be heading north.”

If Killarney Lass makes it, she will add a lot of luster to easily the best card seen at Hastings for quite some time.