Spaghetti Mouse wins B.C. Cup Classic

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Hometown hero Spaghetti Mouse became the all-time leading British Columbia-bred money-earner with a dramatic victory over Texas Wildcatter in the $107,894 British Columbia Cup Classic at Hastings on Monday. The Classic was the feature race on B.C. Cup Day, which included seven stakes races for British Columbia-bred or B.C.-owned horses.

With Pedro Alvarado aboard, Spaghetti Mouse broke sharply and then stalked an honest pace set by Winter Warning. Spaghetti Mouse, who carried high weight of 125 pounds, moved to the lead midway around the stretch turn. Turning for home, Alvarado moved Spaghetti Mouse out to the middle of the track to ward off Texas Wildcatter, who was making a strong move from off the pace. They raced head and head through the final eighth of a mile, with Spaghetti Mouse prevailing by a neck.

"He broke very sharply, and I had a lot of horse the whole way," said Alvarado. "I was just waiting for horses to come from behind before I was ready to make my move."

Trained by Lenore DaPonte, Spaghetti Mouse was sent off as the co-favorite with the fifth-place finisher, Zounds, and paid $5.10. The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:50.01 over a fast track.

Favorites ruled the day. El Sinaloense, also ridden by Alvarado, set the tone with an easy six-length win in the $50,000 B. C. Cup Nursery, paying 2.80.

P.S. Good N Ready paid $3.30 for her win in the Debutante; Remarkable Miss ($2.90) cruised to a four-length win in the Dogwood; and Krazy Koffee paid $5 for his easy win in the Stellars Jay.

All That Jazz shook things up with a $38.60 mutuel in the Sprint, and Alpine Garden ($10.30) upset heavily favored Lady Raj in the Distaff.