Sunbird rebounds with easy win in Premier's Handicap
Sunbird atoned for his narrow loss in last month's BC Derby with a 1 1/4-length win over defending champion At Attention in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 B.C. Premier's Handicap at Hastings Racecourse.
Amadeo Perez rode the winner, who is trained by Terry Jordan and owned by Pauline Fellicella and the estate of Nick Fellicella, in the 1 3/8-mile race for colts and geldings. The race was joined on the card by the $100,000 Ballerina Stakes for older fillies and mares.
Sunbird had the run of the race for much of the Premier's Handicap as At Attention and Just Jimmy dueled through moderate splits of 49.70 and 1:15.85, with the winner sitting about 3 lengths behind them for much of the way.
The son of Orb joined the leaders midway on the final turn and then strode away powerfully with At Attention holding on well to be second while BC Derby victor Accidental Hero came along to get third as the 5-2 board favorite. They covered 1 3/8 miles in 2:17.89 on a fast track, with Sunbird returning $7.30 on the nose to his jubilant backers.
The Ballerina Stakes saw two-time defending BC Horse of the Year Infinite Patience win a stakes race on dirt for the 17th time in 17 chances. The 1-5 favorite won in deceptively easy fashion with a final margin of 2 1/2 lengths. The Barbara Heads trainee covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.48.
Winning rider Antonio Reyes saved ground most of the way while in no hurry to ask the big mare for her best. As the quintet turned for home the favorite was allowed to assert herself and she did just that while striding clear in the stretch. Above Average raced near the winner for much of the way and held second while second favorite We B Three was another 3 1/4 lengths back in third.
Infinite Patience, a daughter of Sungold, races for William Decoursey and R N H Stable and was also bred by Decoursey.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.