Sky Promise tops full field in B.C. Derby
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Sky Promise has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite and will break from post 6 in the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby at Hastings on Saturday. Entries were drawn Wednesday morning, and barring scratches the starting gate will be full with 12 horses. The derby headlines a strong 10-race card that includes five supporting stakes headed by the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks, which drew 10 horses.
Sky Promise is a deep closer, so his post position wasn’t a big concern for his trainer Robertino Diodoro. The Sky Mesa colt is perfect in two starts since Diodoro claimed him for $40,000 at Churchill Downs on June 30. With Rico Walcott riding, he was an easy 7 1/2-length winner of the $75,000 Manitoba Derby on Aug. 6, and then was all-out to beat Day Raider by a length in the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park on Aug. 25. Walcott retains the mount.
Weekend Wizard, the second choice at 7-2, drew post 12. Trainer Craig MacPherson wasn’t upset with the outside draw, though. In Weekend Wizard's last start in the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby at Emerald Downs on July 29, the gelding was pressured from the outside by Argosy Fleet and it caused him to end up dueling with longshot Freiburg through wickedly fast fractions in the 1 1/8-mile race. He was game in defeat while losing to the even-money favorite, Sippin Fire, by three-quarters of a length.
“I’m okay with it,” said MacPherson. “He doesn’t always break that well, and from out there he can’t get squeezed back. It will also give Richard a good look at what the other speed is doing.”
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He was referring to Richard Hamel, who was aboard when Weekend Wizard romped in the $50,000 Chris Loseth at Hastings prior to his tough loss in the Muckleshoot Derby. He was ridden by Julien Couton at Emerald.
Day Raider, also trained by MacPherson, will break from the rail. He is also a deep closer and he appeared to be getting to Sky Promise in the Canadian Derby, but his strong late move came up just short. He came from last to win the $50,000 Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial in his previous start at Hastings.
Shipping in from California is Canadian Game, who will break from post 10 with Aaron Gryder riding for trainer Glen Todd. Owned by Paul Reddam, the colt made all of his previous starts for trainer Doug O’Neill.
Canadian Game used his good tactical speed to finish third in first-level allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option in his last start at Del Mar on Aug. 8.
Here is the field in post-position order with jockey and morning line.
1: Day Raider – Antonio Reyes, 6-1
2: Not Yet – Miguel Rodriguez, 12-1
3: Pickford – Denis Araujo, 20-1
4: Apalachee Bay - Amadeo Perez, 6-1
5: Wise Market – David Lopez, 20-1
6: Sky Promise – Rico Walcott, 3-1
7: Chef – Scott Williams, 30-1
8: Titochip – Sahin Civaci, 30-1
9: El Noble – Enrique Gonzalez, 15-1
10: Canadian Game – Aaron Gryder, 9-2
11: Brave Nation – Silvino Morales, 15-1
12. Weekend Wizard – Richard Hamel, 7-2