VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trick of the North showed that he hasn’t lost a step as a 9-year-old when he came from off the pace to upset Spaghetti Mouse by a half-length in Monday’s B.C. Cup Classic at Hastings. The Classic was one of seven stakes races restricted to B.C.-breds that made up the bulk of the B.C. Cup Day card It was the first win in the Classic for trainer Barbara Heads. She isn’t sure when or where Trick of the North will start next. “He doesn’t think it, but he’s an old man, so we’ll just take our time with him,” said Heads. “He’s just been walking so far and we’ll see how he’s doing when he goes back to the track.”Trick of the North benefited from a lively pace that was set by Spaghetti Mouse under pressure from Krazy Koffee. Spaghetti Mouse, trained by Terry Dubois, ran his eyeballs out but just couldn’t hold off the late surge from Trick of the North. At 8, Spaghetti Mouse is no youngster himself. According to Dubois, he came out of the race in excellent shape. “What can I say?,” she said. “He ran his heart out as usual. He came out of it great, but I don’t know where he’s going to run next. Maybe the Longacres Mile, but we’ll see.”Spaghetti Mouse brought his career earnings to $929,627 and remains the all-time leading money-winning B.C.-bred. All of his money earned has been at Hastings.Almost Time possible for MileTrainer Dino Condilenios, who already has two candidates for the Longacres Mile in Burj Dubai and Teide, is also considering the race for Sprint winner Almost Time.Almost Time feasted on fractions of 21.23 seconds for the first quarter-mile and a wicked half in 44.27. Not surprisingly, the horses battling it out up front, Woombroom Express and Sense of Humor, finished last and second to last while Almost Time was stopping the clock in a near-record 1:15.76 for 6 1/2 furlongs. The track record for the distance is 1:15 flat.“He ran so well, and he came out the race in such great shape, that I’m starting to get the Mile itch with him,” said Condilenios. “There just aren’t a lot of options for him so the Mile is certainly in the picture. I have three horses for the race so we’ll have to see how it all works out.”Wind Storm gets a perfect rideDave Forster did a great job of bringing Wind Storm off a two-month layoff to win the 1 1/8-mile Distaff for older fillies and mares by a nose over Rainbowsinthewood. What makes the training feat stand out is that all of Wind Storm’s nine previous wins were in sprints. Forster also brought Socorro County off a similar layoff to win the 2005 Distaff.Forster credits the ride by Richard Hamel for having a lot to do with Wind Storm’s success.“I told Richard that he was riding a sprinter and that she only has a very short move, so wait as long as you can,” said Forster. “He did it perfectly and it didn’t hurt that she got through on the rail going down the backstretch.”Cherokee Notion earns derby berth Trainer Troy Taylor said that Cherokee Notion will be heading to the Grade 3, $300,000 Canadian Derby on Aug. 21 at Northlands Park following his win over Don’twaitforme in the Stellar’s Jay. Joining him will be his stablemate, Dyna Stroll, who finished seventh as the 6-5 favorite.“We’ve always thought Cherokee Notion had a lot of ability and he finally proved it,” said Taylor.According trainer Robert VanOverschot, Don’twaitforme will stay at Hastings and be pointed to the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby on Sept. 26. VanOverschot would like to run Texas Buccaneer in the Canadian Derby, but isn’t sure if he has enough earnings to get in if the race overfills. Texas Buccaneer made a late move from last to finish sixth in the Stellar’s Jay. Lassie next for Victory With ClassVictory With Class will be given a few days off at the farm following her 5 1/4-length win in the Debutante for 2-year-old fillies. Trained by Terry Clyde, Victory With Class is undefeated in two starts and couldn’t have been more impressive in her latest win. Her next start will likely be in the $50,000 Lassie Aug. 26.“We’ll let her rest a bit and then point her to the Lassie,” said assistant trainer Mike Anderson. “She was bought privately so she isn’t eligible for the Sales Stakes. The Sadie Diamond Futurity is our main goal but it isn’t until the last day of the meet.”Two fall stakes for ‘Kissme’Trainer Phil Hall likes the way the rest of the meet sets up for Nursery winner Jump Up and Kissme.“It’s perfect,” he said. “We’ll give him a little time off at the farm and then bring him back for the Sales Stakes and the Jack Diamond Futurity.”The Sales Stakes is scheduled for Sept. 12 and the Futurity closes out the meet with the Sadie Diamond Futurity on Oct. 11.