After winning an impressive race at Hastings Racecourse on September 22, Sunbird will be looking to win the Grade 3, $100,000 Premier Handicap for the second consecutive year at PNE this Saturday. Sunbird is trained by Orb’s 4-year-old son in Kentucky, Terry Jordan, who likes how he has found success in three-eighths-mile races for 3-year-olds and up. Sunbird’s most recent win was his first of the year. “He’s been running good races all year, but he’s been stopped almost every time until his last start,” Jordan said. “I think he’s one of the best horses I’ve ever trained.”This means a lot, considering that horses trained by Jordan have won five awards for being the best in every category in Canada.
Jordan considers Real Metropolitan to be the best of them all. True Metropolitan won consecutive Sovereign Awards for Best Senior in Canada from 2006 to 2007. The sophisticated Florida grower can handle any surface. His first victory came on the turf at Gulfstream Park in Miami, Florida. He won at Arlington Park in Chicago and at every track in western Canada. His best runs came on the synthetic track at Woodbine. He retired with earnings of $1,246,631. Jordan’s fastest horse was the 2010 sprint champion Hollywood Heat. Hollywood Hit was owned by Peter Redekop. “It was great training for Peter,” Jordan said. “They said if you like the horse, buy it without worrying about the cost.”
BC The two favorites to win the Jordan Award for Independence were 2009 women’s sprint champion Tribal Belle; Canvasback Farms began its career in Hastings. He failed to finish the race leaving jockey Mario Guitierrez, who won the Kentucky Derby on debut. Jordan got his $8,000 back and won by a wide margin. “When I moved to Toronto, they told me to throw it in the truck,” Jordan said. This was a smart move as Tribal Belle has won four races, including the Grade 3 Hendry in 2010. Not least is Dancing Allstar, the 2007 champion two-year-old.
The daughter of Millennium Allstar, bred by Bent Tree Farms, won her first start at Hastings before being sent to Woodbine to win the My Dear Stakes. He returned to Hastings and soundly beat rivals in the CTHS Sale Stakes, Sadie Diamond Futurity and Fantasy. He was inducted into the Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2009. Jordan, 82, is scheduled to be inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony next year. He will be joined by Hannah, who has won multiple stakes for Steward Wayne Russell and Trainer John Morrison. “I’m really honored,” Jordan said. “I’ve had a great career and it’s nice to be recognized.”Jordan, who had surgery for Colin’s cancer several years ago, credits his partner Anita Bolton for much of his success.
“When I was sick, I completely took over the barn,” he said. “I can’t tell you how much it helped.”Jordan said this year was much better than last year. “If I feel good and Sunbird is good on Saturday, I’ll take her to Woodbine,” he said.
I don’t have enough patience
Trainer Barbara Heads said Infinite Patience will be retired after Saturday’s $100,000 Ballerina Challenge. The British Columbia-bred seven-year-old daughter of Sungold has established herself as a top female in western Canada since debuting as a two-year-old in 2019. Won 21 races and earned $873,700. Owned by breeders William Decourcy and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Nugent-Hopkins is a superstar forward for the Edmonton Oilers. “It would be nice to get him more than a million dollars, but it’s getting harder and harder to train and both Bill and Ryan said he’s had enough,” Hides said.
Saturday pick: first race 2:30 p.m.
RACE 3: CURLIN ROCKS drops to the lowest point after the second trail trial and, with Antonio Reyes and trainer Nicole Rycroft on board, makes an easy move on the inside leg. RACE 6: FRANKIE MACHINE has finished third in nine starts at the meeting and could be headed for the top with lead trainer Steve Henson alongside lead jockey Amadeo Perez. It should at least be part of your ticket to Exotica. Randy Goulding has bred horses at Hastings Park for over 30 years and writes for The Racing Form. His column appears every Friday during the racing season.
