Remembertobreathe pointed to British Columbia Derby

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Sylvea Gregory said Remembertobreathe came out of his second-place finish Aug. 16 in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby in great shape and will make his next start Sept. 14 in the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby at Hastings.

“He’s sharp, happy, and doing fantastic,” said Gregory.

Remembertobreathe finished 11 1/2 lengths behind Edison in the 1 3/8-mile Canadian Derby at Northlands Park, but he had an eventful journey. He broke a step slowly with Ryan Pacheco aboard, and after making an early move along the rail to get within striking range, he got stuck behind horses while Edison was making his winning move on the outside. When he finally found room, he made another strong move to get up for second. He never was going to beat the winner, but he would have finished a lot closer with a clean trip.

According to Pacheco, Remembertobreathe wasn’t the only one who had a compromised trip.

“I was pretty bloody when I came back,” said Pacheco. “When we got stuck behind horses, we were both getting hit by dirt clods that were bigger than I’ve ever seen before. I saw one big clod coming at me, and when it hit me, it knocked my head back. My horse looked like he had his head knocked back a couple of times, too.”

As evidence, Pacheco displayed serious bruises on both of his arms Thursday at Hastings, five days after the race.

“At one point, it felt like I was getting punched by a ninja 50 times in two seconds,” he said. “I can’t say enough about Remembertobreathe. Considering everything that happened, he ran huge.”

Gregory and Pacheco had a great weekend together. Prior to leaving for Northlands, they teamed up Friday night at Hastings to win the $50,000 Hard Rock Casino for 2-year-old fillies with Seedle Surprise, and they were second with Oh Derek in the $50,000 New Westminster for 2-year-olds.

Seedle Surprise was a big surprise for Gregory but not so much for Pacheco.

“I knew my best 2-year-old [Quatre Cat] wasn’t going to be in it, so I thought she had a chance of finishing second or third,” said Gregory. “Heading into the stretch, I was pretty excited because it looked like she was going to get third, then second, and she really surprised me when she got up to win the race.”

The final margin was a head over Ambleside Park.

Pacheco was expecting a big performance from Seedle Surprise. What had him excited was her five-furlong work in company with Quatre Cat on July 27. Quatre Cat has won both of her starts in impressive fashion with Pacheco aboard, including the $50,000 B.C. Cup Debutante on Aug. 4.

“I was on Seedle, and she really impressed me with how she was able to keep up to Quatre Cat,” he said.

Oh Derek looks like he has a future, too. He broke last in the five-horse New Westminster, and after trailing the field early, he rallied to finish second behind the favorite, Party Pooper.

Gregory said the main goal for the Kentucky-bred son of Brother Derek is the $75,000 Ascot Graduation on Oct. 15. The 1 1/16-mile Graduation is the only middle-distance stakes race for 2-year-old colts and geldings at Hastings.

“He missed the break, but it was a great learning experience for him and us as well,” said Gregory. “Now we know he can relax, and that will certainly help him in the Ascot.”

Encouraged by her success with 2-year-olds this year, Gregory said she planned to be active at the local Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society yearling and mixed sale at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, British Columbia, on Sept. 9.