Rondelito wins B.C. Derby after bizarre chain of events

Rondelito proved himself a deserved winner Saturday in the Grade 3, US$90,282 British Columbia Derby at Hastings. His victory finally was made official at the end of a bizarre, 72-minute chain of events which began with an undefeated filly being a gate scratch before a double disqualification in the listed $48,752 B.C. Oaks.

Chi Chi Time, who brought a 4-for-4 record into Saturday, was cross-entered in both the Oaks and the Derby. Trainer Pat Jarvis chose the Oaks, where the B.C.-bred Finality filly was a 1-5 favorite as she was loaded last into post 1. She immediately reared and kicked open the front of the gate. Her jockey Kuri Powell was unseated, and Chi Chi Time appeared on the live video feed to be cast in the stall. Within 30 seconds it was announced she was scratched “by order of the stewards on advice of the track veterinarian.”

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Although the view was obscured, the gate crew freed Chi Chi Time, who got back to her feet within one minute and was walked off the track after her tack was removed. The four remaining starters were backed out by then, and the Oaks began eight minutes late. There was no immediate update on the condition of Chi Chi Time or Powell, who was taken off his two remaining rides.

Gee I’m Foxy, who had been 4-1 at the time of the gate incident, became the new 4-5 favorite. She led most of the way and crossed the finish line first, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of runner-up Someday Lady, who went from 8-1 to 3-2.

Zenari, who shortened from 30-1 to 6-1, crossed third, but her jockey Antonio Reyes claimed foul against the first two finishers for interference midway up the backstretch in the three-turn, 1 1/8-mile race. The same objection was made by Pat Jarvis, the trainer of both Zenari and the scratched favorite Chi Chi Time.

Twelve minutes later, stewards promoted Zenari to the victory, demoted Gee I’m Foxy to second and dropped Someday Lady to third.

All this led to a 24-minute delay in the running of the B.C. Derby. Even that did not go 100% smoothly.

Rondelito, owned by Lorie Henson, trained by husband Steve Henson and ridden by Kimal Santo, stalked along the rail of the 1 1/8-mile race for nine 3-year-olds before taking control up the backstretch and winning by 3 1/2 lengths. He paid $12.70 to win.

Accidental Genius finished second, but he was accused of interfering with third-place Dancing Porky. Rondelito also had a foul claim made against him for forcing a rival outward up the backstretch. Stewards finally dismissed the objections 11 minutes after the end of the feature.

Rondelito has won five consecutive races including three stakes since May, all at Hastings. The gelding by Lent out of Street Sense mare Vandelita is 9: 5-0-1. With the US$49,655 first prize Saturday, his earnings total US$118,565.

The B.C. Derby was the last race in the Western Canadian derby series. Attack, who was promoted to victory in the Manitoba Derby, finished sixth as the 2-1 favorite Saturday. Take Charge Tom, who was disqualified at Assiniboia Downs, won the Canadian Derby last month at Century Mile but was not entered in the B.C. Derby.