Rampaging Alf immune to pressure in Governors'

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Rampaging Alf ($6) made a couple of points with a gate-to-wire victory in Sunday's 1 1/8-mile Lieutenant Governors' Stakes at Hastings Park. He proved that his totally dominating win in the John Longden 6,000 had more to do with his talent than a wet track and he showed that he can run nine furlongs while under constant pressure.

In the Longden he had things his own way, but in the Governors', King Jeremy was pressuring him from start to finish. "Now we know he can go that far," said his trainer, Terry Jordan.

Jordan was extremely confident going into the Longden but wasn't sure how Rampaging Alf would fare going the extra sixteenth of a mile. Although he did manage to win the race, he was all out and came home the last eighth in 13.84 seconds. The final time was 1:49.95.

"I was worried that they were going to catch me," said jockey Pedro Alvarado. "He was a little tired down the lane but the track might have had something to do with that. It was much deeper than usual."

Makors Mark was making his first start at Hastings Park since winning last year's B.C. Derby and the local fans sent him off as the 6-5 favorite. He was within striking distance most of the race but ended up fourth, three lengths behind Rampaging Alf. "I thought I ran the best horse but he was between horses most of the way and it looked like he said the heck with it," said his trainer, David Forster. "But that's the way it goes sometimes and he came out of it fine."

Forster said Makors Mark will make his next start at Emerald in the $100,000 Mt. Rainer Breeders' Cup on July 29.

Rampaging Alf is owned by Paul Minichiello. He and Jordan are uncertain if the horse will start here in the B.C. Cup Classic on Aug. 6 or go to Emerald for the Governor's Handicap on Aug. 5.

Two-year-old stakes winners

In Sunday's supporting features, both divisions of the Canadian Thoroughbred Sales Stakes, Excited at Last ($6.50) and Regal Heir ($19.80) became the first 2-year-old stakes winners at the meet.

Excited at Last won the colts division with a commanding 5 1/2-length gate-to-wire win and Regal Heir overcame traffic trouble to win a last gasp decision over favored Haunting You in the fillies division.

"I was just aboard for the ride," said Fernando Serna, who rode Excited at Last for trainer Dana Smith.

"To almost get dropped and then go back to running was something," said Sam Krasner, who was aboard Regal Heir for trainer Sid Martin.

New racing association chairman

Colin Gabelmann has stepped down as the chairman of the Pacific Racing Association, operators of Hastings Park Racecourse. Rick Clough has been named as the new chairman.

"I've made this decision with the strong belief that it is in the best interest of the industry to have Rick Clough in the chair during this time of political change in Victoria," said Gabelmann. "It makes a lot of sense to have someone in the chair that doesn't have my political history."

In May, the Liberal Party came to power in thge province. Gabelmann is closely tied to the New Democratic Party and was the Attorney General for the province in the mid-1990's.

* The Woodbine Entertainment Group (formerly known as the Ontario Jockey Club) has been granted a 90-day extension of its exclusive bidding rights with the Pacific Racing Association.