Sorryaboutnothing runs like a favorite in British Columbia Derby
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - With nine minutes to post Sorryabouthing was a 14-1 longshot to win the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby.
When he broke sharply with Antonio Reyes aboard and took the lead in the 1 1/8-mile race he had been bet down to 9-2. Then he ran like an even-money favorite, setting fast fractions while seemingly cruising, and he never looked threatened while winning the signature race at Hastings by 2 1/2 lengths. He paid $11.70.
Crazy Prophet finished second and Stanz in Command rallied to get up for third. The favorite, Opportunistic, ran an even race to finish fourth. Opportunistic and the winner are trained by Troy Taylor.
The final time was 1:50.45.
Reyes was confident he had a lot of horse after Sorryaboutnothing posted a quick half-mile time in 46.68 seconds before he opened up a 1 1/2-length advantage over Moon King at the six furlong mark. He took a 2 1/2-length lead into the stretch and was never threatened while easily holding off Crazy Prophet.
Reyes was aboard Sorryaboutnothing for the first time when he worked five furlongs out of the gate in 58.60 seconds last Sunday.
“I was very impressed with the work,” Reyes said. “It didn’t seem like he was going that fast. He felt the same way in the race. I had a big hold of him and he was very comfortable out there.”
Sorryaboutnothing is trained by Troy Taylor, who said adding blinkers made a big difference. In his last start in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Northlands, Sorryaboutnothing got off to a poor start and never really got involved.
“He got a lot more focused when we put the blinkers on,” Taylor said.
It was the first win in the Derby for Taylor and owner Glen Todd. Todd was very emotional in a post-race interview.
“I have been trying to win this race for a long time,” he said. “I’ve won the Longacres Mile, but this is home. It is the most important race at Hastings, and it means a lot to me to finally win it. It also fills in the resume.”
The next start for Sorryaboutnothing and Opportunistic could be in the Grade 3 Premiers on Oct. 1.
Calgary Caper will also be heading to the Premiers following his last-to-first win over Shooting Jacket in the $75,000 S. W. Randall Plate. He paid $11.50.
He was ridden by Amadeo Perez in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. Perez also won the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks with Victress and the $75,000 Delta Colleen aboard Touching Promise.
Calgary Caper, trained by Phil Hall, posted a final time of 1:49.91.