Page 13 - October 2005 The Game

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, October 2005 13
Few owners have their enthusiasm and the devotion to the game and few have tried so hard to achieve the dream and finally after more than 25 years of trying Nick and Pauline Felicella have finally won the BC Derby.
The derby has been a dream for Nick and Pauline for a long time. In 1982 they thought they could win with a horse called Rambling Native but ran up against RJ Bennett’s good colt and future Hall of Fame inductee TRAVELLING VICTOR. There were other years, other good horses. Each year Nick and Pauline would be the leading buyers at the CTHS yearling sale—trying to find that magic moment from the pages of pedigree.
West Coast racing has to be grateful to the Felicellas. Through good years and bad Nick has poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the game. He is the perennial top buyer at the yearling sale (this year spending $290,000 total at this year’s sale) and yet the prize has eluded him. Until this year. This year the longest shot on the board at 41 to 1 was the Felicella’s temperamental SPAGHETTI MOUSE a horse that, according to jockey Dave Wilson, did everything wrong all year but showed up at the right time.
"I said from the beginning that this horse could win the derby," said Wilson.
A two time Sovereign winner Wilson rode a perfect trip against a field of good riders including imports from Seattle Russell Baze and Ricky Frazier. Breaking third he was a half length behind the leaders at the quarter and stalked the pace through the first circuit. Four wide on the final turn he
blew past the leaders at the top of the stretch and drew away easily to win by 3 1/2 lengths.
"I had a ton of horse at that time," said Wilson. "For once this horse did everything right. Gary (leading trainer Gary Demorest) has done a lot with
this horse. He had him right when it counted." SPAGHETTI MOUSE is a bay colt by Archer’s Bay out of Dessert Mouse by With Approval and was
bred by Black Canyon Thoroughbreds.
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Justin Stein....
The battle for leading apprentice rider at Hastings put forward in this space last May didn’t quite materialize as predicted. Not to take anything away from Jorge Espitia who has ridden some fine races and showed tremendous talent with thrilling stretch drives—it’s just that Justin Stein has ridden away with not only the apprentice title but at this writing is leading rider at Hastings as well. But there is a bigger fight coming up for Justin. A fight every Western rider faces—a fight for recognition in the East where West Coast riders get little acknowledgement. We saw it with Nicki Wright who should have won a Sovereign award a few years ago.
Emma-Jayne Wilson has won 107 races with a 15.0 win percentage and probably over $6 million in purse money by meets end. She’s the chalk and will be this year’s sovereign winner. She rides a full card with five days of racing each week and has 686 mounts at this writing. Corey Fraser has 101 wins from 513 mounts and sits just behind Emma in purse earnings and a 19 percent win ration.
Justin rides a full card on race days as well but over a season with far fewer race days and considerably smaller purses. Yet he has managed to win 97 races with a 22.9 win percentage from 438 mounts. (His record is 84 wins 92 seconds and 55 show finishes for a whopping 58% in the money). Overall Emma has won just one Stakes race while Justin has won four. There are other similarities and comparisons in their
careers. Emma and Corey are in a battle for leading rider title with the best jockey in the east; Patrick Husbands. Justin is vying for the title with the equally formidable Pedro Alvarado.
Last month in the 1 1/8 mile BC Oaks Justin demonstrated the kind of rider he has become. Breaking on top from the two-hole he was a length ahead after the first quarter. Passing the tote board for the first time he glanced at the time (a trait of a more experienced rider) and realizing the time of 23 seconds was too fast he took hold of his mount and let the speed pass. He was fifth, in very tight a length behind the leaders entering the turn to the backstretch but where others might have panicked he sat cool holding his horse together and waiting for an opening. It came on the backstretch and he moved at the half-mile pole when he should, by the head of the stretch his
horse was in full stride and he tapped her a few times left-handed then simply put his whip away and posed for the cameras. It was a perfect ride.
"Better than I could have done," said two-time Sovereign winner Chris Loseth.
The only way Justin Stein will get the recognition he deserves is if he goes to Woodbine and proves just how good he is. So a note to horsemen and whoever votes for these things back there —the kid deserves a good long look.
Hastings Groom of the Month
Better Breathing = Better Performance
A Look at Racing in British Columbia
By Jim Reynolds
Brian Brock
Brian has been working at Hastings for the last two summers and he has finally bought his first vehicle: a 1966 Chevy.He enjoys his work and the horses. "It's in my blood. The horses are a lot of fun to work with" said Brian. When he's not working as a groom for his father he is busy walking hots for another trainer. "I'm really proud of him. Every time I give him more and more responsibility he rises to the occasion", said trainer Dan Brock.
Photo by Jackie Humber
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Did You Know....
That the two longest shots in the BC Derby, Spaghetti Mouse and Bull Ranch, finished one-two, sparking a huge exactor and
triactor payoff. Spaghetti Mouse paid $85.60 for the win. The exactor paid $2,710.60 and the triactor, with another longshot, Timeless Passion finishing third, paid $22,191.80.
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