The BC Derby, Purse $250.000, Grade 3, 1 Mile and 1/8th, Dirt for 3 Year Olds

On a big day of racing in Canada where most of the action is at WO there is a nice stakes race for 3 year olds today at HST. This race has only attracted a field of 4 but this looks like a solid field of horses where the winner can come from any of the horses. Let’s take a look at the field:

1- Whatever Man (Bigking)- He has raced 11 times with 5 wins in those 11 starts. All 5 of those wins have come routing however 3 of the 5 wins have come on turf. He does come into the race off a win however that was going a mile and a half on turf. He does sport a stakes win however it was in a state bred overnight stakes 3 back, and has failed to make a huge impact in graded stakes races. He does appear to have come out of his last race well posting a solid dirt mile work which is why I think the horse was entered here.

2-Miami Fan (Sanny Village)- He has won half of his lifetime starts winning 4 out of 8 races however this seems to be an all or nothing type horse as he has yet to hit the board in races he hasn’t won. He ended 2014 and started 2015 well winning 3 races in a row but was then stepped up to the graded stakes level for 3 races and has yet to hit the board. He has one public work since his last race and it was a solid mile dirt work. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one get back to his winning ways.

3-Garibaldi (Jerry Garcia Racing)- He has raced 11 times in his career with 3 wins including his last race. His last race was a stakes win going today’s distance at Saratoga and was by a measured ½ length. He also has 3 second place finishes in his career. He appears to have come out of that last race very well and has posted 2 solid public works including a very fast mile dirt work which is the fastest dirt mile work he has posted in his career. Off that work alone you have to say this horse looks like he may be the one to beat in this race.

4-Steel Suited (MB Stables)- He has raced 8 times in his career with 2 wins but has hit the board in 7 of 8 of these starts. He comes into the race off a very nice win going today’s distance in an allowance race in a time that was even a bit faster the Garibaldi’s stakes win, however he was carrying 4 less pounds. He also appears to have come out of that race very well and has posted several very solid workouts that show me he is ready for another big effort. It is hard to knock this horse at all and I think he will be battling it out at the end.

For being a being a small field it appears as if all of the horses who have entered the race a solid and have a shot at winning the race. No matter what happens in the race there will be a horse that has won their first graded stakes race. Here is my prediction. 3-4-2-1

Warbucks

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES