EDMONTON, Alberta (Sept. 10, 2022) – Unbeaten Big Hug, an Alberta-bred daughter of California stallion Mr. Big, won Saturday’s $49,500 Sturgeon River Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Century Mile.
Big Hug has won all three of her starts with earnings of $62,439.
Out of the Unusual Heat mare Temeeku, Big Hug ran the six furlongs in 1:11.34 and won by 1 ¾ lengths as the 3-5 favorite.
A match race from the middle of the turn almost to the finish line, Big Hug, who had won her previous two starts with huge late moves that produced two easy wins, duelled with Bootiful Rose to the sixteenths pole when Big Hug took over for good and drew out to a length and a quarter victory.
“Leaving from the outside seven post let me control the pace,” said jockey Rafael Zenteno Jr. “I could go or I could sit just off the pace. I decided to sit just behind Bootiful Rose. When my filly kicked in I just went on from there.
“She didn’t win by a lot but I wasn’t worried at all. I was actually more worried in her other two races. I had a clean trip and she won with horse to spare. She’s a champion. She’s a really nice horse. I really think she could go anywhere and win.”
Owned by trainer Rick Hedge, who has had another big year, and Empire Equestrian, Big Hug was purchased for just $3,400 at last year’s Alberta Yearling sale from breeder Chalet Stable. “I liked everything about her at the sale. She was the kind of horse who said ‘Buy me.’ So I did,” said Hedge.
Big Hug paid $3.30 to win.