With a big last-to-first move, Second City rolled down the stretch to a 2 3/4-length victory in the $200,000 British Columbia Derby (G3) Sunday at Hastings Park. The bay 3-year-old son of Distorted Humor was making his stakes debut and is the sixth graded stakes winner of 2012 by his sire. As a testament to his worldwide appeal, Distorted Humor’s graded winners have come in France, Dubai, Canada and the United States.
Second City brought a perfect 3-for-3 record to Hastings, with a pair of allowance victories at Charles Town Races in West Virginia and a maiden win at Penn National. In three starts, he had never been headed, but after a slow break, jockey Richard Hamel found himself in the back of the 11-horse field. Still in last after a half-mile, Hamel began his move in the three-path midway down the backstretch.
Hamel had his mount four-wide on the final turn, but he was gaining momentum and passing horses despite the outside trip. Entering the homestretch, Second City forged to the front, passing a three-horse entry that was the 2-5 favorite, and drawing away in the final sixteenth of a mile.
“He just missed the break and then horses on his outside came over and shut him off,” Hamel said. “He seemed comfortable back there, and I didn’t want to force the issue. He started picking up horses at the three-eighths pole, and I figured I better start looking for a place to go with him. I had a lot of horse, so I just went wide.”
Still perfect in four starts, Second City now has bankrolled $172,404. Bred in Kentucky by Darley, Second City is now owned by Peter Redekop B.C., Ltd. Redekop purchased his stable star after he won his second start at Charles Town.
“The plan was to be on or near the lead, so for him to win the way he did was unbelievable,” said Redekop.
Second City is out of Sis City, winner of the Ashland S. (G1), Demoiselle S. (G2) and Davona Dale S. (G2).
