A Big Day Out
The weather's set fair and the largest crowd of the season is expected at Hastings on Saturday for the first running of 'The Cup' since before the pandemic
The previously unraced BE LIKE ME may not need to be anything special to play a leading role here. Out of the former BC Oaks winner Ole’s Miss, Be Like Me is a half-sister to the winning claimer Parker Point and has been working well enough in the mornings. Best One Yet ran promisingly on her second career outing behind Flicker Dance and subsequent winner Southern Lass to suggest she can also be a factor.
Third on her seasonal debut behind Makeitorbreakit back in May, Anaamy drops noticeably in class here for what is only her second run of the campaign. Bellaroo, meanwhile, had Sky Factor and Living Sky behind her earlier this month and should be thereabouts again today after hitting the board on all four of her outings this year. However, TEXAS HUMOR has had some bad luck in running a couple of times this season and should be much closer here if replicating her second-place finish to Country Cowboy in June.
HEART OF TEXAS is an obvious selection having finished ahead of the rest at some point this season, while Done That may be best of the rest based on her third-place finish to Pinappele Tidbits and Heart of Texas last time. Certifiable has solid claims if she can repeat her June victory, although she was a little disappointing when fifth on her most recent appearance.
Miss the Hype has hit the board in each of her five starts this season (all in a higher grade of race) and must surely break her maiden before too long. Whether that’s today depends upon how she copes against the three boys and especially Sloop John B, who has solid form and returns to the $16k class after a fourth-placed finish at the $50k optional claimer level last time. VALUE DANCER represents the in-form Mendoza barn and she is another with solid form in a higher class.
Harbour Storm chased home Northern Kid two starts ago and filled the same runner-up spot last time when beaten by Southern Lass over today’s distance. Carolina Gent did not have the clearest passage when seemingly full of running last time out and he is entitled to be a lot closer today. SILVER ARROW, meanwhile, will have her sixth different jockey in as many starts when Amadeo Perez slings a leg over on Saturday, but she is not without a chance based on a rallying third behind Southern Lass and Harbour Storm last time, despite hopping at the start. She gets the nod in what is a competitive heat.
Not an easy race to decipher, with three-year-olds allowed to run for a higher claiming tag and which, subsequently, has attracted several runners dropping through the levels. Barney Google, for instance, finished second to Makeitorbreakit in a $20k claimer last time and, if repeating that effort, would take some stopping. A Tree of Life returns to the 8½ furlongs and same class level over which he impressed so much two starts ago, while Mt Seymour successfully dangled a hoof in the shallowest waters last time to beat Keepingthedream and Carolina Gent over 6½ furlongs. Don With the Wind is another dropping down the class ladder, while TRAPALIS runs for the same tag as last time but drops yet another class category and is looking to follow up on his easy 8-length win earlier this month.
The feature race of the day has attracted a six-strong field of talented equine athletes. JUST JIMMY overcame some minor traffic issues and was doing all his best work late when second to the impressive Kay’s Kitchen last time (with Valuable Cowboy in third), while Florida Gator, who has solid form back east, returns to the shorter distance following a gutsy win last time over 8½ furlongs. Vancouver’s Hunter has been plying his trade exclusively in Stakes company this season and should appreciate the marginal class relief. Valuable Cowboy has shown improvement with each performance and he should give the favourite plenty to think about, while Country Cowboy may benefit from the return to the 6½ furlongs over which he beat Texas Humor two starts ago. Finally, Makeitorbreakit wasn’t beaten too far in the Ross McLeod Stakes earlier this year on his most recent start at the 6½ furlongs.
Although she faces a stiffer task today, there was much to like about NOTHINGBUTSUNSHINE when last seen scooting up the inside of even-money favourite Quality Command to win at the first time of asking. Wide Awake makes her Hastings debut here after being campaigned in Toronto last season (where she wasn’t out of the first three in six starts) and, if she adapts to the vagaries of the East Van ‘bullring’, can go close. Arikara makes her first appearance since being claimed by current connections and a repeat of her win two starts ago brings her into contention. Wandalita has a favourite’s chance after two second-place finishes to the useful Kandy Katie sandwiched a win over Ostracize in June.
Mike & Drew’s Derby Bar & Grill Picks - Saturday July 23
Locally-Bred Winners
A lighter week this week for winners bred in British Columbia, although with a notable double for ‘RJ’ and Lois Bennett’s stallion SUNGOLD, who continues to be represented by winners on a very regular basis. The Bennetts were also breeders of BLACK METAL (Bakken), who was winning for the second time this season when beating Parker Point on Sunday. Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Bennett and to all the winning connections of BC-bred winners last week.
GRANDE PRAIRIE:
El Dorado Storm, 4yo dk b/br g by Coast Guard - Kula Girl (Hesabull)
Breeder: Jens Jensen
Owner: Charlie Weaselhead, Many Bears, J. Warner and Max Gibb
Trainer: Travis Robson
HASTINGS:
Anothersunnyday, 4yo ch f by Sungold - Mystical Molly, by Forest Grove.
Breeder: Elton H. Gunther
Owner: Peter Redekop B. C., Ltd.
Trainer: Barbara Heads
He's Relentless, 5yo dk b/br g by Lent - Tempered Steel (Tempered Appeal)
Breeder: Nite & Day Stable
Owner: Nite and Day Stable and Todd, Joanne
Trainer: Brian O'Connell
At Attention, 5yo dk b g by Shanghai Bobby - Unattended (Quality Road)
Breeder: Bryan Anderson & Carol Anderson
Owner: Bryan Anderson & Carol Anderson
Trainer: Barbara Heads
Black Metal, 5yo dk b/br g by Bakken - One Awesomepromise (Awesome Again)
Breeder: Mr. & Mrs. R. J. Bennett
Owner: Mr. & Mrs. R. J. Bennett
Trainer: Barbara Heads
Pretty Aria, 4yo b f by Kantharos - Pretty Jenny (Pioneering)
Breeder: Tod Mtn. Thoroughbreds
Owner: Ironside Stables Ltd
Trainer: Robert VanOverschot
Sungold Beauty, 4yo dk b/br f by Sungold - Random Highs (High Demand)
Breeder: David and Sylvea Gregory
Owner: David and Sylvea Gregory
Trainer: Sylvea Gregory