Shacane pulls off B.C. Cup Classic shocker

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Shacane came from well off the pace to post a huge upset in the $107,100 British Columbia Cup Classic at Hastings on Monday.

Shacane, who was ridden by apprentice jockey Rocco Bowen, paid a B.C. Classic record win price of $81.30.

Trailing the field early, Shacane moved up while saving ground going by the stands the first time. He moved out to get a clear position heading down the backstretch of the 1 1/8-mile race and then made a strong move to engage the leaders while going four wide approaching the quarter pole. He took the lead on the stretch turn and then was all out to hold off a late bid by Timeless Passion by a half-length. Act of God rounded out the $4,325 triactor by finishing three-quarters of a length behind Timeless Passion.

It was the second B.C. Classic win for trainer Shauna Ferguson and the first ever stakes win for Bowen. Ferguson won the 2000 Classic with Kid Katabatic.

"Shauna told me not to move too early and he settled in nicely behind the front runners," said Bowen. "Then he went right over the top of them."

This was the first stakes win for Shacane since he won the Grade 3 Premiers as a 3-year-old in 2002. Shacane bowed a tendon not long after his win in the Premiers and after undergoing stem-cell therapy, he has been sparingly raced.

"It's wonderful to be able to train a horse like him," said Ferguson. "He's such a professional."

Heavily favored Spaghetti Mouse, who was a little rank early, pressed the pace and then tired in the stretch to finish fifth.

Final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:50.05.

Other winners on the B.C. Cup Day card were Remarkable Miss ($9) in the Debutante; Suva ($6.60) in the Dogwood, Starlite Strike ($4.20) in the Distaff, Ookashada( $4.10) in the Stellar's Jay, Star Prospector ($29.50) in the Nursery, and B R Remark ($9.30) in the Sprint.