Hastings: Accidental Hero rallies to win British Columbia Derby

Locked in a battle the length of the homestretch, post-time favorite Accidental Hero (6-5) outdueled second choice Sunbird (7-5) to win by a head Saturday in the Grade 3, $92,343 British Columbia Derby at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver.

Ridden by Kimal Santo, Accidental Hero was right in the middle of the five-horse field but never more than two lengths back in the 1 1/8-mile, dirt-track race. Going three wide into the last of the three turns, the 3-year-old Mo Town colt caught up with Sunbird, who had assumed the lead the first time by the grandstand only to lose it the second time past.

Click here for Hastings entries and results.

Trained by Larry Grieve for WYN Racing Stables, Accidental Hero was clocked at 1:50.05 after chasing early fractions of 23.18, 47.54, 1:12.64 and 1:37.48. He paid $4.40, $2.30 and $2.10. Sunbird returned $2.30 and $2.10. Space (5-1), who finished 5 3/4 lengths behind in third, paid $2.60. Kystone (7-1) wound up fourth, and It’s a Fact (21-1) came in last. Riverside was scratched by the stewards.

Formerly trained by Steve Asmussen before being claimed in May, Accidental Hero was a $260,000 purchase last year. Saturday’s win ran his record to 13: 3-4-3 and, with the addition of US$50,824, upped his career purse earnings to US$150,834.

The British Columbia Derby wrapped up the inaugural Western Canadian Triple Crown. Mano Dura from the 1 1/8-mile Manitoba Derby (G3) and Abeliefinthislivin from the 1 1/4-mile Canadian Derby (G3), the winners of the first two jewels, were not entered Saturday.