Touching Promise might be making swan song in B.C. Cup Distaff

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Barbara Heads is hoping for Touching Promise to turn things around Monday in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Distaff. The 1 1/16-mile Distaff is one of six open stakes races that will make up the bulk of the traditional B.C. Day holiday card.

When B.C. Cup Day originated in 1995, all the races were restricted to horses bred in British Columbia. Due to the dwindling foal count in the province, there have been changes through the years, culminating with there being no restricted races this year. The good news for owners of B.C.-breds is that they are running for more money. All six stakes, including the B.C. Cup Classic, are worth $50,000, but if a B.C.-bred wins, he or she will receive a $25,000 bonus.

Heads would like to see Touching Promise regain the form she had in 2016, when she won the $75,000 Pacific Customs Brokers Distaff Handicap on B.C. Cup Day and the $50,000 B.C. Cup Distaff, both against fellow B.C.-breds.

The 8-year-old daughter of Touch Gold is also a two-time winner of the Grade 3 Ballerina. However, she ran only once last year, and after running a big race sprinting to be third in the $50,000 Vancouver Sun to start this year, she came back with two dull efforts going 1 1/16 miles in the $50,000 Strawberry Morn and $50,000 Monashee.

Bred by her owners, Russell and Lois Bennett, Touching Promise wants to be involved early, and in both the Strawberry Morn and Monashee, she did not break sharply.

“She ran such a huge race sprinting that I think the race may have taken more out of her than I thought,” said Heads. “She didn’t break that well in her next two races. Plus, she might not have cared for the track, which has been deeper this year. I hope it rains because she loves the slop.”

Heads was pleased with how Touching Promise worked a half-mile in 47.20 seconds with Denis Araujo aboard Wednesday.

“She seems really good right now,” said Heads. “She doesn’t owe us anything, though, and being an 8-year-old, she just might not be interested anymore. If she doesn’t run a good race Monday, we’ll probably stop on her.”

Touching Promise easily will be the top money earner in the Distaff field with $455,356 in earnings.

Owner Peacock dies at 91

Longtime owner Cecil Peacock died last Saturday. He was 91. He is best known for owning Brother Derek, who won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in 2006. At Hastings, he won the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby with Bobbin for Stars in 1997.

Bobbin for Stars was trained by Lance Giesbrecht, who in 2004 married Peacock’s daughter Kim Peacock. Giesbrecht and Kim Peacock own the Phil Hall-trained Calgary Caper, who will be among the favorites in the B.C. Cup Classic.

A service will be held in Alliance, Alberta, at the Alliance Community Hall on Aug. 9 at 2:30 p.m.

◗ Hastings runs seven races on Friday, with first post at 7 p.m. Pacific.