Quatre Cat delivers in B.C. Cup Dogwood

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Quatre Cat paid $3.90 as the solid favorite in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Dogwood at Hastings on Monday.

With Richard Hamel aboard, Quatre Cat sat just off longshot Sailingforthesun, who was unpressured while setting moderate fractions in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. They didn’t change places until Hamel gave Quatre Cat her cue heading into the stretch turn. She took the lead turning for home and edged clear to win by two lengths. Storm Stalker finished a non-threatening third.

The final time was 1:44.57.

Quatre Cat was winning her third stakes at the meet for owners Stuart and May Carmichael and Dave and Sylvea Gregory.

Sylvea Gregory is her trainer.

Stanz in Command wins Nursery

First-time starter Stanz in Command rallied from off the pace to win the $50,000 Nursery. He paid $78.70 and keyed a $744.20 exacta and a $6,471 trifecta.

David Lopez had Stanz in Command well back during the early stages of the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds while 6-5 favorite Reason for Being was carving out quick interior fractions of 21.97 and 45.07 seconds. He started to make his move on the stretch turn, split horses at the top of the stretch, and edged Fear of the Cat by a half-length. Power Corrupt finished third.

The final time was 1:18.45.

Stanz in Command is trained by Charlene Miller and owned by Robert Scott.

Arabella’s Muse wins Pegasus Distaff

Jockey Richard Hamel was planning to let Arabella’s Muse stalk Dawselina in the $75,000 Pegasus Distaff, but Arabella’s Muse had other ideas, and after taking control early, she easily won the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares. She paid $4.10 as the solid favorite.

Dawselina broke on top and opened up a clear lead going into the first of three turns. When they straightened out going past the grandstand, a headstrong Arabella’s Muse rushed up to take control. She went a quick half-mile in 46.81 seconds, and after opening up a clear lead at the quarter pole, she never looked threatened while easily holding off the late move of Locket. The final margin was two lengths. Touching Promise stalked the early pace and held on to finish third.

“I knew the pace was going to be fast, so I wanted to let her sit just off it,” said Hamel. “She wanted no part of it though, so I just let her run her race. I did get a bit of a breather going down the backstretch, and she had plenty left at the end of the race.”

Trained by Mike Anderson, Arabella’s Muse posted a final time of 1:44.07.

She is owned by Karen Nordhall and Terry and Bernie Gallagher.