Brian McGregor-Foxcroft

 

18/ 10/ 99 – Vancouver: It was all set to go. It was to be the match-up of the racing season. The two equine stars of the field, Mike K, the Hastings speedster, and Artic Son, the defending champ, were well prepped, and were the favorites of the local handicappers. When the field of 10 horses left the gate in the $125,000 1 3/8^th Mile Premier’s Grade III, which was the 7^th race of the live 9 card race day, Sunday, October 17^th, Mike K was at odds of 3-5, and Artic Son at 4-1. But it was a horse totally overlooked by the bettors, the Lance Giesbrecht trained Victorious Type, who was 1 and 2 for 4 at the distance, and running at 8-1, who charged home to shut out the other favorites. This was a race not to be missed, and was without a doubt one of the best events of the 99 season at Hastings Park. At the wire it was Victorious Type, with Dave Wilson in the irons (his third win of the day) who beat out the Rick Kamps trained American Justice, with Felipe Valdez riding for second money, and the Allan Jack trained Mike K, with Gerry Olguin riding for third money. Mark My Dreams came up for fourth, and Artic Son ran fifth. The pay outs were: Victorious Type $18.90/ $11.20/ $5.60; American Justice $11.90/ $7.60; and Mike K $2.50. The Exacta paid $396.20, and the Trifecta paid $1,044.40.  As a foot note to this race, fans may remember the recently run Sir Winston Churchill at Hastings, where Mike K just beat out Victorious Type, who placed, and Artic Son, who ran third in the 9 furlong, #35,000 event. The answer to Victorious Type’s future success is more distance.

 

Last weekend also saw a new jockey to Hastings Park, Danny Vergara, win the 9^th race on It’s Meant To Be at odds of 9-2. Also worth noting is the 6^th race on Saturday, October 16, where Greg and Virginia McKinley’s Victor Lehman won $15,260 6 ½ furlong claiming race. Look for this horse to improve in the future. This was his second win of the 99 season.

 

For those of you with an eye to perhaps buying a horse of your own in the near future, I have some helpful statistics for you. The 1999 Live Foals Reported By Stallion list was recently released in the September 18^th issue of The Blood-Horse. A number of BC stallions are listed as follows:

 

Alfaari:                 52 Mares Bred   30 Live Foals    62%

Bold Laddie:          23 Mares Bred   14 Live Foals    61%

Feu d’Enfer:          33 Mares Bred   14 Live Foals    42%

Free At Last:         61 Mares Bred   30 Live Foals    49%

Happy Trap:          31 Mares Bred   10 Live Foals    32%

Katahaula County: 46 Mares Bred    18 Live Foals    39%

Silver Fox:            12 Mares Bred      9 Live Foals    75%

Turbulent Kris:       32 Mares Bred   13 Live Foals     41%

Vying Victor:         73 Mares Bred    50 Live Foals    68%

 

The progeny of Free At Last (by Wild Again, who stands at number 10 on the Leading Sires List of 1999) have done very well at Hastings Park this year. Pay special attention to Free At Last fillies, all of whom have stupendous racing heart and are extremely sound animals. Also impressive are the young from Katahaula County (by Bold Ruckus); his youngsters are fast footed. Bold Laddie produces consistent runners. But the big news of the BC breeding year is Alfaari (by Danzig) from whom I firmly believe we shall see great things in the near future, if Rampaging Alf and Megatron are anything to go by.

 

For those interested in successful bloodlines from both breeding and handicapping angles, it is interesting to note that the late Mr. Prospector is once again the leading broodmare sire for 1999. His young include several of the leading sires in North America, including: Conquistador Cielo, Kingmambo, Power Of Mind, Fair American, Gone West, and Gulch, to name but a few. Mr. Prospector’s progeny continue to dominate on both dirt and turf in North America. This is something to keep in mind when handicapping American tracks, but not Hastings Park, where his offspring are not impressive performers. These are distance horses who prefer races over a mile rather than sprints.

 

If you are considering the purchase of a race horse, you’ll have a chance to check out the local talent at the Fall Mixed Sale to be held at Milner Downs, Langley, at 6:00 p.m. on October 26^th. The catalogue indicates some very good prospects, including six Alfaari youngsters, seven Free At Last offerings, and two Katahaula County young. Also listed are two rather intriguing broodmares, going as Hips 10 and 11, who have direct connections to Prince John (by Princequillo), an outstanding runner with tons of stamina. Both mares are listed as possibly pregnant. And while I’m on the subject, Hip 64 is a bay mare (1984) who has Princequillo on her mare’s side. I think this will be an interesting sale, and well worth attending if you’re in the market for a potential racing investment.

 

Just a final note to simulcast handicappers, Calder Race Course, Florida will be on line as of 28 October. This is a good track to watch in preparation for the 1999 Breeder’s Cup, November 6^th at Gulfstream Park. Calder is used as a condition meet for many of the Breeder’s Cup candidates. Also up on the same day is Keeneland, Kentucky. Handicappers tell me that this is one of the toughest tracks to handicap in North America, and if you can get it right there, you can get it right anywhere. And for those who like to do a little Standardbred wagering, Montreal is up and running. Without a doubt, Montreal offers some of the very best harness race handicapping in North America.

 

Until my next column, all the best of racing luck!