The Chris Loseth race in Hastings is the first step to the BC Derby

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Saturday’s $50,000 Chris Loseth Race at Hastings Racecourse is the first step toward Hastings’ premier race, the $125,000 Grade 3 BC Derby on September 14.

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The Loseth one-mile and 16-mile race will help identify horses that can run a middle distance and also serves as a possible prep for the first leg of the Western Canadian Derby Series. The series consists of the Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs on August 5, the Grade 3 Canadian Derby with a purse of $200,000 at Century Mile and the BC Derby.

If a horse can win all three races, a bonus of $100,000 is paid out. That’s a daunting task, and so this year a points system is being introduced into the program, offering a $25,000 bonus to owners and trainers of horses that compete in at least two of the three races.

Century Mile-based trainer Craig Smith is bringing Classy City to Vancouver for the Loseth. If Classy City goes well, Smith’s original plan was to go straight to Winnipeg.

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However, because a horse was diagnosed with infectious anemia, Assiniboia Downs has been under quarantine since mid-June.

“We’re still hoping to get to Winnipeg,” Smith said. “We’ll go back to Edmonton first and see how it goes.”

According to Dustin Davis, Assiniboia Downs racing secretary, the horses stabled at Assiniboia will be tested for the virus again on July 29 or 30. In a previous test, none of the horses on the backstretch tested positive.

“It’s still a little uncertain and it’s going to be close,” said Smith. “But we’re still hoping to be in all three races of the series.”

Classy City has excellent chances in the Loseth. Before his impressive win in the Western Canada Handicap at Century Mile on June 7, the Kentucky-bred son of Classic Empire ran almost exclusively on Tapeta, the artificial turf at Golden Gate. The 70 Beyer Speed ​​Figure he posted for his two-length win at six furlongs in the Western Canada is the best figure in the final race among the seven horses who competed in the Loseth.

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“We weren’t sure how he would handle dirt, but when we ran him for the first time at Century, he showed us that changing surfaces wouldn’t be a problem,” Smith said.

Classy City should also be able to negotiate three turns his first time out with ease. He won his first one-mile race at Golden Gate and, according to Smith, has the right temperament to handle the task.

“He’s an easy horse to train and will do anything you want him to,” Smith said. “He can stay close or come from far behind.”

Smith, vice president of the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Alberta, is pleased with how the racing season is going in his home province.

“Thanks to government support, we have a solid long-term plan,” Smith said.

Smith was referring to the approximately $19 million that flows into the horse racing industry from slot machine revenue. In BC, this amount is around $10 million.

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August Rain, trained by Barbara Heads, is considered the favorite in the Loseth. Heads really wanted to go to Winnipeg, but now not so much.

“It’s a long journey and the testing is pretty close to the race,” she said. “We haven’t ruled it out completely, but it’s a bit questionable.”

Selection on Friday: first race, 7 p.m.

RACE 3: REACH After an encouraging debut for trainer Heads, things are looking good and it won’t hurt to have leading rider Amadeo Perez on board.

RACE 5: LUCKY FORCE is preferred over his stablemate ONLY JIMMY who is the logical choice given Jimmy’s excellent record at this distance. I just think Lucky Force is an improved four-year-old and his only two attempts at this distance were against Stakes Company.

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SATURDAY SELECTION: FIRST RACE 2:30 PM

RACE 5: AUGUST RAIN is clearly the one to beat, but given the Rob Maybin-trained WESTMINSTER a chance to spring an upset. The Kentucky-born son of Bolt d’Oro got off to a poor start in the Ross McLeod and lost some momentum down the backstretch as he settled down. Additionally, Maybin has had a solid 21 percent strike rate over the past five years for horses that have gone a mile or more the first time around, according to the Daily Racing Form formulator.

Randy Goulding has been a writer and horse racing reviewer for The Racing Form at Hastings Park for over 30 years. His column appears every Friday throughout the racing season.

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