2017 British Columbia Derby Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver, British Columbia will be the scene of the G3 British Columbia Derby on Saturday, September 9. Horses three years old will line up on Hastings dirt track and race 1 1/8 miles for the winner's share of the $150,000 purse.

A strong field of 10 will line up in the British Columbia Derby - race 8 on Hastings Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:25 PM. Let's take a brief glance into the past performances of all 10 combatants for this intriguing G3 stakes.

2017 British Columbia Derby Entries at Hastings Racecourse

Riser 5-2

Blaine Wright trained colt has four wins and a second-place finish in eight career starts. He makes his graded stakes debut Saturday off a good win in the minor Emerald Downs Derby July 30, a second in the minor Seattle Slew Stakes at Emerald Downs July 2 and two more wins at Emerald Downs - the minor Coca-Cola Stakes June 4 and an Allowance Optional Claiming May 6. Riser arrives in career-best form and will be after a fourth win in his last five starts when he leaves from post 9 with Aaron Gryder in the reins of the morning line favorite.

Chief Know It All 3-1

Has placed in nine of 11 career starts for trainer Robertino Diodora - four wins, a second and four third-place finishes. Last time out was a terrific win in the G3 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park August 19 after a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Churchill Downs June 30, a third in a similar race on that track June 3 and another Allowance Optional Claiming score at Keeneland in April. Before that was a tenth in the G3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in February and an Allowance Optional Claiming score to start his year January 27. Chief Know It All has been seriously trending upward and will be after a second straight graded stakes score from post 3. Rico Walcott gets the call on the second betting choice.

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Trooper John 7-2

Has hit the board in all 10 career starts for trainer Tim Rycroft - six wins, three seconds and a third-place finish. Last time out was a second behind Chief Know It All in the G3 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park August 19 which followed five straight wins - all minor stakes races including the minor Count Lathum Handicap July 15, the minor Ky Alta Handicap June 17, the minor Western Canada Handicap May 27 and the minor Canadian Juvenile Stakes in October - all on this track. Trooper John has been a serious factor in every career start - the only thing missing is a graded stakes win. Jockey Keishan Balgobin will try to get that win from post 7 Saturday as the morning line third choice.

A. P. Zona 5-1

Philip Hall trained colt has five wins, a second and a third-place finish in 12 career starts. He steps into graded stakes company for the first time Saturday off a decent second in the minor Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial Handicap on this track August 7 and three straight wins including an Allowance July 16, the minor River Rock Casino Handicap June 24 and the minor Jim Coleman Province Stakes May 22 - all on this track. He won two of his prior three starts as well. A. P. Zona has been competitive this year and shoots for a third stakes score in five starts when he leaves from the rail with Enrique Alonzo Gonzalez aboard.

Double Bear 10-1

Has hit the board in six of eight career starts for trainer Rodney Cone - two wins, three seconds and a third-place finish - all at Northlands Park. Last time out was a quality second behind Chief Know It All in the G3 Canadian Derby August 19 after a second in the minor Count Lathum Handicap July 15, an Allowance score June 23 and a third in an Allowance race June 14. Before that was a sixth in the minor Western Handicap May 27 and a second in the minor Canadian Juvenile Stakes last October. Double Bear has placed in six of his last seven starts overall and will be looking or a first stakes victory from post 5. Dane Nelson is scheduled to ride.

More Power to Him 12-1

Has three wins, three seconds and three third-place finishes in 13 career starts for trainer Kay Penny Cooper. He enters off consecutive thirds - the minor Emerald Downs Derby July 30 and the minor Seattle Slew Stakes July 2 -both at Emerald Downs. Before that was a fifth in the minor Snow Chief Stakes at Santa Anita May 29, a second in the minor Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate May 14 and a fourth in the minor Silky Sullivan Stakes at Golden Gate April 30. He also had an Allowance Optional Claiming score March 11 and a respectable runner-up finish in his only graded stakes action to date - the G3 El Camino Real Derby in February. More Power to Him arrives in decent form and will chase a first stakes score from gate 2 Saturday. Rocco Bowen rides.

Driller 15-1

Has placed in 10 of 11 career starts for trainer Mel Snow- two wins, seven seconds and a third-place finish - all on this track. He posted four straight runner-up finishes in minor stakes action earlier this year and has been competitive since. Last time out was a second in an Allowance August 21 which followed a third in the minor Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial Handicap August 7 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score July 23. Driller has been in every race so far in his career and steps into graded stakes company for the first time with Silvino Morales guiding him from gate 6.

Handsome Chef 20-1

Barbara Heads trained gelding has a win, two seconds and two third-place finishes - all on this track. He makes his graded stakes debut Saturday off an Allowance score August 21 after a fourth in the minor Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial Handicap August 7 and a third, a second and a third respectively in a trio of MSW races early in the summer. Handsome Chef has been OK so far in his career and will be after a breakthrough performance from gate 8. Amadeo Perez gets the call.

Hunters Appeal 20-1

James Brown trained gelding has three wins and two third-place finishes in his seven career starts - all at Hastings. He steps into graded stakes company for the first time Saturday off a third in an Allowance August 21, a good win in the minor Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial Handicap July 7 and a third in a Waiver Claiming July 16. Hunters Appeal has been OK lately and hopes to channel his effort from two starts back. Richard Harvey Hamel is scheduled to ride from the outside gate 10.

Parsimonious 30-1

Will race for just the third time for trainer Barbara Heads having posted a win and a second-place finish so far - both on this track. Last time out was a win in a Maiden Optional Claiming August 18 after a second in his debut August 7. Parsimonious has been competitive in limited action and hopes to carry that on in his major step up in competition. Antonio Ambrosio Reyes will be in the saddle from gate 4.

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2017 British Columbia Derby Odds & Entries

Race 8 on Hastings's Saturday card with a Post Time of 8:25 PM.