British Columbia Derby 2013 Contenders at Hastings Racecourse

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 3 British Columbia Derby comes our way from Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver British Columbia this Sunday, September 8. A purse of $150,000 will be on the line for three year olds willing to go 1 1/8 miles on Hastings dirt track.

The British Columbia Derby has attracted a field of 10 for race 9 on Hastings Sunday schedule. Post time is 5:10 PM. Here is a brief look at the past performances of all ten combatants for this Grade 3 stakes - all but one of which come out of either the Canadian Derby or the Richmond Derby Trial Handicap.

2013 British Columbia Derby Race Favorite Entries

Reporting Star - Hastings' leading trainer Craig MacPherson sends out Reporting Star who won his career debut but finished off the board in the two minor stakes races that followed - a fourth in the Arthur Appleton Juvenile Turf at Calder in November and a fifth in the Dania Beach Stakes December 15. In 2013 he has raced seven times and finished third in the first four - the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes March 3 included and has three straight seconds heading into the BC Derby including the Grade 3 Pegasus at Monmouth in June and the Grade 3 Canadian Derby behind Broadway Empire last time out at Northlands August 17. He hasn't won since his debut in October but has certainly been knocking on the door!

Bluegrass Pride - another Craig MacPherson trainee most recently captured the minor Richmond Derby Trial Handicap here August 18 over the likes of Tracker and Hopeseeker after a second in the minor Chris Loseth Stakes on this track July 1. Prior to that was two wins in the spring and a couple of seconds in MSW races on this track as well. Since shipping from Woodbine Bluegrass Pride has three wins and three seconds - Hastings definitely brings the best out in this gelding.

British Columbia Derby 2013 | Remaining Contenders

Shooting Jacket - is coming off a decent third in his graded stakes debut- the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park August 17 after a minor stakes score on this track in July - the Chris Loseth Handicap. He also had a third in the minor River Rock Casino Handicap in June after a MSW score here in May. He started his career in Britain where he failed to place in five starts - needless to say North American racing has suited Shooting Jacket very well.

Title Contender - Anita Bolton trained gelding has had some truly terrific results and some poor ones as well. On July 27 he won the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistletown but followed that up with a distant eleventh last time out in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park August 17. He has races some other huge races with sketchy results - an eighth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, an eleventh in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity and a seventh in the Grade 3 Rebel Stakes. He has a win, a second and a third place finish in six starts this year but is very difficult to figure out! The one thing going for Title Contender is the fact that he has been up against some top notch competition and definitely won't be scared of the BC Derby field.

British Columbia Derby betting at Hastings Racecourse with OffTrackBetting.com

Go for Guinness - has 11 career starts all on this track with two wins, two seconds and a third place finish. His best result came August 5 - a win in the minor British Columbia Cup Stellar's Jay Handicap ahead of Tracker. Sandwiched around that result is a fourth last time out in the minor Richmond Derby Trial Handicap as the 4-5 favorite and a fourth in the ungraded Chris Loseth Handicap July 1. He has placed in just one of three stakes races but that result was huge.

Modern - won a Maiden Optional Claiming at Turf Paradise in January but has failed to place in his three starts since - all on this track. Last time out was a fifth after setting the pace and tiring behind many of his British Columbia Derby foes in the minor Richmond Derby Trial Handicap after a pair of fourths in Allowance races this summer. He enters this weekend with a win and one third place finish in six career starts.

Success Rate - finished ninth after setting the pace and falling off the map last time out in his graded stakes debut - the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park August 17 after a fourth in the ungraded Count Lathum Handicap in that same track in July. He has three wins, three seconds and a third place finish in 11 career starts and started his season placing in six straight at Calder and Gulfstream but he appears to have fallen on hard times lately. He looks to rebound for and get back to the early career form we saw from him.

Tracker - finished second ahead of Hopeseeker last time out in the minor Richmond Derby Trial Handicap here August 18 after a sixth in the minor British Columbia Cup Stellar's Jay Handicap August 5. He had a couple of wins on this track last summer but has placed in two of his last four stakes races the last year. Sunday marks Tracker's graded stakes debut but he will have Mario Gutierrez in the saddle.

Hopeseeker - has just three career starts for trainer Carl Lautsen and is coming off an OK third in his stakes debut - the minor Richmond Derby Trial Handicap here August 18. Before that was a third in an Allowance and a MSW score in his career debut on this track in June.

Leo's in the House - races in stakes company for the first time having recorded one win and two seconds in six career starts - all on this track. Last time out was a disappointing sixth in an Allowance August 18 after a Maiden Optional Claiming score August 4.