Hastings: Field of 6 lines up Saturday for British Columbia Derby

After coming up short in the Canadian Derby last month, Sunbird and Accidental Hero will cut back Saturday when they headline a field of six 3-year-olds racing in the Grade 3, US$92,341 British Columbia Derby, the finale of 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 for Saturday’s race that covers 1 1/8 miles around two turns at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver.

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An Orb gelding who is owned by the Felicella family and trained by Terry Jordan, Sunbird had his 4-for-4 record stained by his never-threatening, third-place finish Aug. 26 in the Canadian Derby. Jockey Antonio Reyes takes over for Edwin González and rides Sunbird from post 5.

Sent off at 19-1, Accidental Hero finished a surprising third in the Canadian Derby. Formerly owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and trained by Steve Asmussen, the $260,000 Mo Town colt was claimed for $40,000 by WYN Racing Stables out of a May victory at Oaklawn. Since he was transferred to trainer Larry Grieve, Accidental Hero finished last, second and third in three minor stakes before the Canadian Derby. His regular jockey Kimal Santo keeps the ride and breaks Saturday from post 4.

Allowance winner Space, who was fourth last month over the same track in the Sir Winston Churchill; It’s a Fact, who won a Century Mile juvenile stakes; Kystone, a new charge for trainer Steve Henson; and maiden Riverside, in his first race for trainer Gonzalo Anderson, also are in the field.

The 76th British Columbia Derby is the eighth of nine races Saturday. It is scheduled for 8:43 p.m. EDT. The first post time is 5 p.m. Environment Canada predicted a sunny day with a high of 70 degrees at Hastings.