Sky Promise to rest up for Zia Park Derby

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Robertino Diodoro said Sky Promise will get a well-deserved rest after rallying to beat Weekend Wizard in the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby last Saturday.

Sky Promise was making his third start in just more than a month. In Sky Promise’s two previous starts for Diordoro, who claimed him for $40,000 at Churchill Downs on June 30, he won the $75,000 Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs on Aug. 6 and the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park on Aug. 25.

“He came out of the race in good shape, but we want to do what’s best for him, and we haven’t really done that since we got him,” said Diodoro. “We’ll freshen him up a bit and aim for the Zia Park Derby.”

The $250,000 Zia Park Derby will be held in Hobbs, N.M., on Nov. 21.

Trainer Craig MacPherson said Weekend Wizard came out of the race in good shape and will make his next start in the $100,000 Getaway Stakes at Emerald Downs on Sept. 23. Weekend Wizard is eligible for a $10,000 bonus if he finishes third or better in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds.

The Getaway is the final leg of the Northwest Triple, which included the Muckleshoot Derby at Emerald and the B.C. Derby. There was a $100,000 bonus available to the winner of all three races, but the connections of Sippin Fire, who defeated Weekend Wizard in the Muckleshoot Derby, chose to face easier company in the Washington Cup Sophomore and passed on the B.C. Derby.

“Weekend Wizard seems to be fine, so if everything stays that way, we’ll run him at Emerald,” said MacPherson.

Trainer Phil Hall was pleased with how Absolutely Stylish came out of his 6 1/2-length romp in the $50,000 S.W. Randall Plate last Saturday here. The Uncle Mo 4-year-old colt will be pointed to the Grade 3, $100,000 Premiers on Oct. 8. He received a 91 Beyer Speed Figure for his front-running victory with Enrique Gonzalez aboard in the 1 1/8-mile S.W. Randall Plate.

Hall is confident Absolutely Stylish will be able to carry his speed throughout the 1 3/8-mile Premiers.

“I loved the way he galloped out,” said Hall. “He wanted to do more, and Enrique had a hard time pulling him up.”

Trainer Blaine Wright said that Reginella, who edged Notis the Jewell by a nose in the $50,000 Delta Colleen, will stay at Hastings for the Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina. The 1 1/8-mile Ballerina will be part of the Canadian Thanksgiving Day card along with the Premiers.

A 4-year-old daughter of Minister’s Wild Cat, Reginella also won the $50,000 Emerald Downs Distaff and is eligible for the $25,000 bonus given to the winner of the Distaff and Ballerina.

CTHS sale figures decline

Numbers were down at the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society B.C. Division yearling and mixed sale, held on Tuesday. The $14,865 average price for a yearling was down 19.7 percent from last year’s average of $18,522. The total for 66 yearlings sold was $981,110, down from $1,315,100 for 71 last year.

Peter Redekop was the leading buyer, paying $243,000 for four yearlings. Redekop shelled out $86,000 for the sale-topper, a colt by Tapiture out of Two to Get Ready.

◗ Saturday’s feature is a $6,250 starter race that drew six well-matched horses and goes as the last race on the seven-race card, which begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.