Taylors Deal, Hoist & Devil in Disguise Form a Powerful BC Derby Entry

Biggest Day of the Year at Hastings on Sunday

VANCOUVER, Sept. 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Owned by Glen Todd and trained by Troy Taylor, the imposing trio of Taylors Deal, Hoist and Devil in Disguise will go as an entry in Sunday's 67^th running of the BC Derby at Hastings Racecourse.

Thirteen 3-year-olds were entered in the Grade 3 $200,000 feature on a 10-race card that includes five other stakes races on the richest day of the year at Hastings with a total of $600,000 in purse money on the line.

A full field of 12 is entered in the mile and an eighth BC Derby with trainer Barb Heads' Mysterious Soul listed as an also eligible.

The early morning line on the Todd trio is expected to be 8-5 with Taylors Deal being touted by local handicappers as the horse to beat.  Taylors Deal drew the number 10 post and will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez of Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes fame.

Trainer Pete Gregory has this year's leading rider Amadeo Perez on High End Man from post 5.  High End Man won the mile and sixteen Richmond Derby in 1:42.86, less than a second off the track record of 1:42.20 set by Coral Isle in 1973.

Undefeated Second City with Richard Hamel up for trainer Craig MacPherson and owner Peter Redekop drew post 7.  A couple of Emerald Downs hopefuls - Italian Boy and D'honorabler One - drew posts 3 and 9, respectively.  Canadian Derby runner-up Dougs Buddy joins the BC Derby lineup from Edmonton for trainer Joan Petrowski with jockey Stephan Heiler from post 6.

Gutierrez, who will be honoured on Saturday with his own Bobble Head Day at Hastings, chose to ride Taylors Deal over Hoist and Devil in Disguise. Enrique Gonzalez will ride Hoist from the outside 12 post while veteran jockey Rico Walcott from Northlands Park in Edmonton will be aboard Devil in Disguise from post 2.

Gutierrez has gone on record to say his mission Sunday will be to win the BC Derby as payback to Todd, the leading owner at Hastings for the past five years.  Throughout all of his success, Todd has never laid claim to a BC Derby victory.

"Glen has done so much for me I cannot thank him enough," Gutierrez said.  "I know what winning the BC Derby before a hometown crowd means to him."

Todd took Mario under his wing shortly after he arrived in Vancouver from Veracruz, Mexico in 2006.  It was Todd who mentored and guided Gutierrez through his storybook journey while riding I'll Have Another to victories this year in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness prior to the horse being scratched from the Belmont Stakes because of a swollen tendon.

Sunday's 10-race card gets rolling with an early 12:50 p.m. start.

The $600,000 BC Derby Day stakes schedule (PST):

Race 2: $50,000 SW Randall Plate - 3-year-olds & up: 1:20 p.m.

Race 4: $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity - 2-year-old colts & geldings:  2:24 p.m. 

Race 5: $100,000 BC Oaks - 3-year-old fillies:  2:56 p.m.

Race 8: $50,000 Delta Colleen - 3-year-old fillies & mares:  4:30 p.m.

Race 9: $200,000 BC Derby - 3-year-olds: 5:10 p.m.

Race 10: $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity - 2-year-old fillies: 5:40 p.m.

Sunday's Guaranteed $25,000 Pick 4:  races 7, 8, 9, 10.

Hastings Racecourse & Slots is located in Vancouver, B.C. and features live and simulcast wagering, vibrant slot gaming floor, numerous dining options, private and public event facility opportunities, spectacular views of the North Shore Mountains, and outstanding guest service.

SOURCE: Hastings Racecourse

Howard Blank  604.512.6066
Raj Mutti 604.216.5245