They liked it so much they did it again.
Dal Reo
Damsel and Brother Brass, who as two-year-olds won the
Sales Stakes in December of 2001, won the same event
for three-year-olds last Saturday.
Brother Brass, a son of Scruffy Hanover out of
Princess Lobell, used a late stretch drive to win by a
length over Red Star Camelot (who was charged with
causing interference and moved back to sixth).
It was the sixth win in 24 starts in 2002 for
Brass, who is owned by the Wild Dunes Stable of Delta,
trained by Sten Ericsson and who was driven by Dave
Jungquist. His share of the $33,145 purse sent his
career earnings to slightly less than $115,000.
Brother Brass was second in both the Sandown
Breeders Stake and the B.C. Breeders Stake but was
coming off a tough showing (distanced) in a tuneup
against older horses the weekend before. However,
Ericsson tipped his helmet to the judges.
"The best horse won today," he said behind a huge
grin. "He was poor last week but he was sick. He
explained the judges could have forced him to qualify
but "they made the right decision. They remembered he
had been sick once before and came back with a strong
race. He was healthy today and that made a big
difference."
The public, however, made him third choice behind
the entry of Camelot, Red Star Ritzi and Red Star
Gramps and second choice Haras Colta Cola.
Camelot was charged with interference before the
quarter when coming from the six hole to take the lead
from Just Invincible. Brass came from fourth at the
3/4 pole to catch Camelot. It was Haras Colta Cola who
was moved from third to second and Raggidy Andy got
third.
"He'll keep racing," Ericsson said of Brother Brass,
"there's a stake in January."
Brass received his winning blanket from former B.C.
premier Bill Vander Zalm.
Dal Reo Damsel, a 6-5 favourite, was most
impressive in the filly race, going wire to wire
despite starting from the dreaded eight hole.
"I knew I would be leaving,"
driver/trainer/co-owner Rod Therres said, "but I
wasn't necessarily going for the lead, I was looking
for a hole."
Damsel found the hole up front before the first
turn. "She was really, really fast off the gate,"
Therres said gleefully.
The daughter of Scruffy Hanover out of Bradner
Janelle, also owned by Charlie MacFarlane of Victoria,
covered the mile in 2:01.3 on the track rated slow.
With her share of the $30,145 purse, she now has
career earnings of $148,000 plus. It was her eighth
win of 2002 and she has been either first or second in
eight starts since returning to B.C. in August.
Dealmeahos was second, three lengths back and Lunar
Princess was third.
It was a good weekend for offspring of Scruffy
Hanover, who died recently at Dal Reo Farms.
Kootenay Ice made it three for the stud by breaking
his maiden and capturing the race for two-year-old
colts and geldings. Out of Natural Success, Kootenay
Ice went gate to wire in a time of 2:02.2 to win by 8
1/4 lengths.
Owned by Robert Chadwick, trained by Kyle Chadwick
and driven by Dave McKellar, Ice had never failed to
cash a cheque in seven starts but three times (twice
in Stakes finals) had finished second to the awesome
Rich Cam.
Rich Cam was not eligible for the Sales Stake but
even he must be impressed by Ice who now has more than
$32,000 in earnings. Oddsofawildcard chased Kootenay
Ice all the way for second and Billy The Cheetah was
third.
"It feels really good," owner Chadwick said of his
first Stakes win. "We raised him from a baby and he
has done everything right. Without Rich Cam he's the
best.
"He loves to race and as long as he stays healthy
and strong we will keep racing. Now, we will enjoy the
moment."
That was exactly how Sharon Renkers, owner of Lil
Dude Ranch along with husband Jerry, felt after their
filly Lil Dudes Dewette won the other race for
two-year-olds.
"It was," she enthused when asked if it was their
first Stakes win.
Dewette, a daughter of Storm Compensation out of
Good Girls Dont, used a big stretch drive to catch Bo
Magnolia and win by 5 1/2 lengths in a new lifetime
mark of 2:00.2. Called To The Bar as third.
Trained by Dave Hudon and driven by Bobby Clark,
Lil Dudes Dewette got her second straight win in her
10th start and her share of the $33,225 purse ran her
earnings to more than $22,000.
An accident just before the stretch put Red Star
Finalee and driver Tim Brown out of the race. Part of
the 4-5 favourite entry, they were second at the time.
"She raced good," Hudon said as he chuckled adding,
"maybe I picked the wrong one (to drive as he was
behind Called To The Bar) this time."
"I think she was going to win anyways," he said of
the spill that took out Camelot.
Brown admitted "I think we might have caught Jim
(Burke with Bo) but I don't know if we could have held
off Bobby."
Sunday, the script was followed to the letter as Nazko
Promise paced to victory in the $33,500 Mr. Vancouver
for four-year old horses and geldings.
Promise left
as the 1-5 favourite and finished with his 13th
victory of 2002. He also has eight seconds and a third
in 25 starts and $195,135 in earnings.
The son of As Promised out of Bawita, owned by
Sunbury Stables and trained and driven by Dave
Jungquist paced the mile in 1:57.3 seconds (the last
half in 57.3) in winning by 4 3/4 lengths. He started
from the five hole in the six-horse field but was
first up and got the lead in front of the grandstand.
"I thought a horse ahead was going to break so I
pulled out to go around," Jungquist explained. "But he
(Nazko Promise) said no, there was no way he was
tucking back in."
Jungquist admits he almost can only shake his head
at the horse and his record but then does usually find
something good to say.
"He will get one more start and then get some time
off," he said.
Red Star Justice was second and Red Star Leam
third.
