by Garry Allison, The Horses Rocky Mountain Turf Club
It took a bad break for one jockey to open the door of opportunity for another at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club on September 22. Scott Sterr had been trying to win the Canada Quarter Horse Cup Futurity for a decade before accomplishing the long-overdue feat aboard Pow Wow Lane that eventful Saturday afternoon.
Pow Wow Lane, out of Invisible Injun, Cash In This Lane by Lanes Leinster, surprised the betting public (paying $23.10, $11.70, $5.20) as he ran away with the 350-yard dash despite a shaky start.
First off, on post parade he dumped his rider Scott Sterr after a few rodeo-type leaps, and then coming out of the gate, he veered to the right.
“I landed on my feet during the post, so that was no big thing,” said Sterr, who was riding the horse for the very first time, including morning gallops.
“He drifted a little at the start, after three or four jumps out, but we didn’t hinder or interfere with any horses behind us. He was wandering, not paying attention, and it’s easy to get caught like that. Then he settled down and came into himself. After that, we ended up fairly well, about three-quarters ahead.”
In the qualifying trials, Sterr was on the ninth and 10th qualifiers and looked to be out of the picture. However, Pow Wow Lane’s rider, Laurina Bugeaud, was injured in a race just after the trials ended and couldn’t ride in the Futurity. That’s when trainer Donalda Cochrane, who bred, raised and broke the champion two-year-old, turned to Sterr.
“I’ve known Donalda since we were 10 years old, though I haven’t ridden any of her horses here for at least two years,” said Sterr.
“I was a little devastated when I didn’t qualify – I didn’t think I was going to get a ride.”
Though he didn’t like the fact that he got the trip at the expense of Bugeaud, he was pleased to ride the Earl R. Brown-owned horse in the $102,000 Futurity.
Pow Wow Lane outlasted favourite KR Montana Cartel, owned and trained by Mary and Ed Kyler. However, all was not bleak for the Kylers as KR Check The Hawk won the $11,400 Futurity Consolation earlier in the day.
Move over Tiger Woods, you aren’t the only one who can rack up grand slams. How about Stan Webb, one of the top RMTC trainers? Stan saw his horses takes the top three positions in the $35,000 Canadian Quarter Horse Cup Derby, also September 22.
All this, despite the fact that his overwhelming favourite, Its All About Speed, was caught in a group and wound up fifth.
However, Stan watched his Six Pack of Corona, Brooke Mellish aboard; Eyesa Bout Covers It, with Craig Wonnacott in the irons; and Legendary Warrior, ridden by Laurie Ferguson, finish one, two, three.
“We are proud to play host to these great Quarter Horse races each year, with this being the 11th running of the futurity,” said Rocky Mountain Turf Club CEO Max Gibb.
“These are the best Quarter horses in Canada and they were running for a record purse this year. “On Saturday alone there was almost $187,000 in purse money handed out - not too bad for a community track.”
