Wise Market banks his cash from River Rock Casino

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Wise Market pulled off a huge upset in the $50,000 River Rock Casino at Hastings on Sunday. Trained by Phil Hall, the champion 2-year-old at Hastings last year was completely overlooked in the wagering in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and paid $32.10 for his half-length victory over 6-5 favorite Argosy Fleet. He posted a final time of 1:17.47.

Breaking alertly from the rail with Amadeo Perez riding, Wise Market was under pressure from Next Otis while posting moderate interior fractions of 22.54 and 46.38 seconds. He was a head in front of Next Otis at the eighth-pole, opened up a clear lead in midstretch, and held off Argosy Fleet.

Argosy Fleet broke well and was eased into a stalking position early. He ended up being stuck behind the leaders, with Weekend Wizard on his outside, and didn’t get clear running room until midstretch. Slew’s Da Boss came from last to finish third.

Wise Market was coming off a disappointing fourth-place finish in the $50,000 Jim Coleman Province on May 5.

“He got off to a bad start in the Province, so I didn’t know what to expect,” said Hall, who owns the son of Mass Market with Blair Law and Brian Albertson. “I thought the pace would be a lot faster, and when I saw the fractions, I thought he had a good chance.”

The $29,500 winner’s share brought Wise Market’s earnings to $164,900. Hall bought him as a yearling out of the 2016 B.C. Division Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society sale for $1,500.