Trick of the North pulls B.C. Cup upset

VANCOUVER, B.C. - Trick of the North took advantage of a lively pace to upset Spaghetti Mouse in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Classic at Hastings Monday. The 1 1/8-mile Classic headlined the B.C. Cup Day card, which included seven $50,000 stakes for B.C.-breds.

Under a patient ride by Pedro Alvarado, Trick of the North sat off of an early duel involving Krazy Koffee and Spaghetti Mouse, who battled through quick fractions of 23.55 seconds and 46.62. Spaghetti Mouse disposed of Krazy Koffee just after six furlongs in 1:10.86 and opened up a clear lead on the stretch turn. His lead had diminished to a half-length at the top of the stretch and Trick of the North wore him down to win by a half-length in 1:49.75.

“I was in the garden spot,” said Alvarado. “We couldn’t have had a better trip.”

A 9-year-old, Trick of the North was the third choice in the wagering and paid $14.10. He is trained by Barbara Heads and he earned $30,000 for his owners, Aurora Stables.

Cherokee Notion, $18.70, paid the biggest price of the day in the 1 1/16-mile Stellar’s Jay for 3-year-olds. Ridden by Fernando Perez, Cherokee Notion saved ground while his stablemate, 6-5 favorite Dyna Stroll, had a wide trip. A claim of foul by Chad Hoverson, the rider of Silly Fella, against Cherokee Notion was disallowed. The stewards ruled that Dyna Stroll was to blame for putting Silly Fella in tight on the stretch turn.

Frank Fuentes brought Almost Time from well off the pace to win the 6 1/2-furlong Sprint in 1:15.76 over Slew’s Boy. He paid $4.30.

Other favorites to win were Dearest Princess, $3.30, in the Dogwood for 3-year-old fillies and Jump Up and Kissme, $4.30, in the Nursery for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

Victory With Class paid $11 as the second choice in the Debutante for 2-year-old fillies. She was an easy f5 1/4-length winner over Embankment, who was sent off as the 8-5 favorite.

The final stakes on the day had the most exciting finish with Wind Storm getting up in the final jump to edge Rainbowsinthewood by a nose in the 1 1/8-miles Distaff for older fillies and mares. She paid $6.10 as the second choice in the wagering. The favorite, Against the Sky, finished sixth in the seven-horse field.

Richard Hamel was the leading rider on the day, with wins aboard Victory With Class and Wind Storm.