Brave Nation Gets Up to Take BC Premier's Handicap

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Photo: Four Footed Fotos
Brave Nation wins the BC Premier's Handicap at Hastings

Gordon Christoff's Brave Nation survived a claim of foul to earn his first stakes victory Sept. 29 in the CA$100,000 (US$75,506) BC Premier's Handicap (G3) at Hastings Racetrack in Vancouver.

The 1 3/8-mile test for 3-year-olds and up drew a field of five, who passed under the wire three times before the finish.

Out of the gate, 6-5 favorite He's The Reason went to the lead and opened up a wide margin, with Final Jeopardy, Explode, Brave Nation, and Calgary Caper strung out behind him. The 4-year-old gelding by The Factor  set fractions of :23.65 and :46.36 with nearly a seven-length lead. He continued with little change to the order, going 1:11.73 and 1:39.04 for a mile.

However, Final Jeopardy shifted gears under jockey Rico Walcott and closed the distance on the leader, taking over at the top of the final turn, followed by Explode, as He's The Reason fell back. Brave Nation was still in third coming into the stretch but made a dramatic move to the front when asked by jockey Antonio Reyes, cutting in front of the tiring He's The Reason momentarily.

The winner, trained by John Snow, finished 1 1/4 lengths in front in a final time of 2:18 flat over the fast track. Final Jeopardy stayed on for second, with Explode, He's The Reason, and Calgary Caper completing the order of finish.

Brave Nation pushed his win total to four. The 4-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile came into Sunday's test off a runner-up finish in the S.W. Randall Plate Handicap on the same course but two furlongs shorter. Brave Nation finished second in last year's edition of the BC Premier's Handicap.

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Brave Nation is the fourth foal out of the Pulpit mare Pull Dancer and is a half brother to grade 2 winner Good Samaritan .

Video: BC Premier's H. (G3)