Trio from B.C. Derby cut back to sprint
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Sedin, Mighty Fraser, and Crius didn’t make much of an impact in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby on Sept. 13 and will appreciate the class relief when they run in an optional $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds at Hastings on Sunday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew eight horses and headlines a seven-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.
Sedin ran the best race of the three in the 1 1/8-mile B.C. Derby, finishing fifth behind the 3-year-old filly Academic.
Trained by Mark Cloutier, Sedin is an improved horse lately. He came from a stalking position to win a 1 1/16-mile optional $25,000 claiming race prior to running in the B.C. Derby, and in both races, he earned a career-best 76 Beyer Speed Figure.
Sedin has never won going 6 1/2 furlongs, but he did win a 3 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race when he debuted as a 2-year-old, and he has enough tactical speed to stay in touch with what figures to be a fast and contested pace.
Antonio Reyes retains the mount.
With four wins, Mighty Fraser is the most accomplished horse in the field. The Troy Taylor-trained Mighty Fraser went into the B.C. Derby off a win in the $60,000 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Sales Stakes. The B.C. Derby, in which he finished sixth, was his second start for Taylor, who claimed him for $25,000 on July 25.
Crius finished a distant seventh in the B.C. Derby, but he made a strong middle move and looked like a serious threat on the stretch turn before fading.
Race 6
KEY CONTENDERS
Sedin (Last 3 Beyers: 76-76-59)
◗ He is trending in the right direction and could be sitting on a big effort after working a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Sept. 27.
Crius (Last 3 Beyers: 52-75-75)
◗ This homebred son of Finality is 2 for 2 at the distance, has good tactical speed, and could be dangerous from a stalking position.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, leading trainer Mike Anderson has a 20 percent strike rate with horses going from a route to a sprint.
Mighty Fraser (Last 3 Beyers: 69-70-66)
◗ There is plenty of speed to set him up, and he should be rolling late. He is reunited with David Lopez, who was aboard for his win in the CTHS Sales Stakes.