Favorite Regal Riot dueled Arollercoasterride in a thrilling stretch drive before thrusting his head in front nearing the finish line to secure victory in the $125,000 British Columbia Derby (G3) Saturday at Hastings Racecourse.
A 3-year-old Jersey Town gelding ridden by Efrain Hernandez, Regal Riot crossed the wire in a final time 1:50.73 for the 1 1/8-mile test.
In pursuit of his first graded stakes win, Regal Riot chased pacesetter Arollercoasterride about a length behind in second through a :23.79 opening quarter.
Drawing to within a half length through a half mile in :48.89, Regal Riot was eye to eye with his rival as six furlongs went in 1:14. 71 and the two began to move away from the field, matching strides down the lane, but Regal Riot won the head bob at the line.
Arollercoasterride was four lengths in front of third-place finisher Boitano.
Trained by Robert J. Anderson, Regal Riot is campaigned by Kim M. Peacock and Lance Giesbrecht, a retired trainer, Hastings mainstay, and member of the British Columbia Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
Regal Riot, who returned $5.70, won for the fourth time in seven starts this year. His record includes two stakes wins in June and July at Hastings and a third-place finish in the Canadian Derby (G3) August 20 at Century Mile in his first attempt in a graded stakes.
In his his only start at age 2, he was runner-up in a maiden special weight at Century Mile.
Bred in British Columbia by Suzanne I. Anderson, Regal Riot was produced by the On Target mare Regal Red. The $68,750 winner's share of the British Columbia Derby purse boosted his lifetime earnings to $133,134.
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