What an upset.
What an amazing, incredulous result.
Where did that come from?
No. Sorry. Big Hug’s victory in Monday night’s R.K. ‘Red’ Smith Handicap at Century Mile was the complete antithesis.
Winning by a thousand lengths against just two other mares, Big Hug merely played with those two rivals like she was out for a morning gallop.
As expected - as the result was - Viva La Diva took the lead but Big Hug and jockey Raffy Zenteno Jr. were never far from the front end in the mile and an eighth romp.
“I didn’t want (Viva La Diva) get too comfortable,” said Zenteno. “Especially in a three-horse race.
“I kept her in my sights.”
The opening quarters were dawdling in a race that was supposed to run Saturday but was cancelled after torrential hard hitting rain turned the track to deep mud.
The first quarter went in a very tepid :25 3/5; a quarter in a walking :50 1/5.
They were walking. Sleep walking.
Midway around the final turn Big Hug edged alongside Viva La Diva. And that was the horse race.
“It was a match race,” said trainer Rick Hedge who notched his 800th training win.
The third horse, Licorice, an out-of-place $8,000 claimer, trailed through out.
“Big Hug just played with them,” said Zenteno. “She just did her job. It couldn’t have been easier.”
And to think what could have been. The race had been expected to be a showdown with Avana, who had defeated Big Hug twice before - most recently in the Red McKenzie where Big Hug hadn’t run for eight months.
But after much soul searching trainer Barb Heads didn’t enter.
“I decided to pass. Avana is easy to train but she’s a big, heavy mare so things have to be right.”
Zenteno was hoping for a rematch with Avana too.
“It would have been nice. I was looking forward to it. Big Hug hadn’t run in eight months the last time they raced while Avana had run recently.
“I think we could have beat Avana. It’s unfortunate it didn’t happen.
“I’d like a match race.”
Big Hug has been Alberta’s Horse of the Year two years; Avana was B.C.’s Horse Of the Year in 2024.
Bid Hug has now won 18 of 34 starts for earnings of $645,000.
The other stake on Monday, the $75,000 the mile and 70 yard Century Mile Handicap certainly was also the complete opposite.
This one was riveting with Sunbird and jockey Antonio Reyes hardly ever having to get off the rail and with a big hole opening up for him around the final turn Sunbird shot through it and then held off Fireman Dan to win by three parts of a length with Lucky Force getting up for third.
“He ran huge,’ said Sunbird’s trainer Geovani Olalde, who has trained Sunbird the last two years. “Just like always. He’s a very honest horse.”
For sure.
From just 19 starts, Sunbird has now won 8 times - including two of his last three - to boost his career earnings to $260,000.
But breathing problems only made it possible for Sunbird to run twice all of last year.
He missed a full year - from June 7 2025 to this past June.
His breathing problems now hopefully over, Sunbird - the race favourite - looks like he could be a dominant force in Alberta distance races.
After all, Sunbird has won races like the Sir Winston and B.C. Premier’s and was runner-up in the 2023 B.C. Derby and won his first four starts.
Owned by John Felicella, Sunbird had been owned by Felicell’s parents, Pauline and Nick, until they passed away.
Third in his previous start, the Spangled Jimmy, John said he believed Sunbird washed out before the race in the paddock.
The secret to Sunbird? Peppermints.
“He loves them,” said John of the son of 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb. “I bring a big bag of them to the track all the time. He would eat the whole bag if you let him.”
Follow me on X (Twitter) and on Facebook.
Inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2017.
Author: The Turcottes: The Remarkable Story of a Horse Racing Dynasty.