Speed and stamina give He's the Reason the edge in Premiers

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Owner-trainer Glen Todd believes He’s the Reason can run all day.

“He’ll go two miles let alone a mile and three eighths,” said Todd.

If Todd is right, He’s the Reason will be tough to catch and beat in the Grade 3, $100,000 Premiers at Hastings on Sunday. The 1 3/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up will be run under scale weight conditions, with the two 3-year-olds in the field, Explode and Final Jeopardy, carrying 118 pounds. Last year’s winner Calgary Caper, He’s the Reason, and Brave Nation pack 124 pounds.

It goes as race 3 on an eight-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

A case can be made for each of the five horses entered.

He’s the Reason showed 1 1/8 miles was no problem when he won the $50,000 S. W. Randall Plate by 2 3/4 lengths here on Sept. 7. With Richard Hamel aboard, He’s the Reason was allowed to set a moderate pace. When Brave Nation made a run at him at the quarter pole, He’s the Reason quickly responded and never looked threatened the rest of the way.

“After the race Richard said he won’t have any trouble going a mile and three-eighths,” said Todd. “We always thought he was a good horse and he is really showing it now.”

A Kentucky-bred son of The Factor, He’s the Reason will break from post 4 with Hamel up.

Despite back-to-back grueling races in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Century Mile and Grade 3 British Columbia Derby here, Explode was full of himself training Friday morning.

In both races Explode dueled from the quarter pole to the wire. He finished a neck behind Journeyman in the 1 1/4-mile Canadian Derby on Aug. 18 but was elevated to first by the stewards when Journeyman was taken down for causing interference in the stretch. He lost by a nose to Five Star General in the B. C. Derby on Sept. 7. The Todd-trained Five Star General is skipping the Premiers to prepare for the $200,000 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita. The 1 1/8-mile race on turf is part of the Breeders’ Cup card on Nov. 2.

Explode, trained by Mark Cloutier, will break from post 2 with Amadeo Perez riding.

“He has kept his weight up and he’s still bucking and playing, so he seems like a happy horse,” said Cloutier. “Anything can happen in a five-horse field so I’m just going to leave it up to Amadeo.”

Final Jeopardy, third in the Canadian Derby and B. C. Derby for trainer Phil Hall, could put some early pressure on He’s the Reason. But he has not shown the same zip for Hall that he displayed when he was the runner-up to Code of Honor in the Grade 3 Dwyer for trainer Jason Servis.

“I was surprised to see him that far back in both of his races,” said Hall on Friday. “He’s doing really well. When I popped him out of the gate this morning, he left there running.”

Rico Walcott will be aboard Final Jeopardy from post 3.

The Hall-trained Calgary Caper can win if he has a pace to work with.

Brave Nation, trained by John Snow, lost by a neck Calgary Caper in the Premiers last year and is coming off a solid effort in the Randall Plate.