'Alamo Looks to Hold Strong
Seven competitive races on Saturday, headlined by a $20k Allowance contest for two-year-olds, with once-raced Rememberthealamo looking to make his experience count against some well-bred debutantes
CERTIFIABLE appeared to relish the step up in distance when winning in June and she’s now two-for-two at a mile-and-sixteenth. Her gate-to-wire win last time also represented a rung up the ladder compared to this contest and she looks to hold a major chance. Pineapple Tidbits has had a busy season and is proving to be the model of consistency, but she is yet to win at this distance. Heart of Texas ran Timeless Shrug to a neck at this distance last time, with Pineapple Tidbits in third, and looks to be best of the rest.
A solid second behind Calypso Prince on his debut, Rememberthealamo has the benefit of a previous run, which may prove to be vital against his unraced rivals. There are a couple of well-bred individuals here that could easily be smart enough to overcome a lack of racetrack experience and the betting market should provide some clues. FILLY FATALE, by the good Kentucky-based sire The Factor, has been worrying the seagulls in the mornings, while C C Sunrise is by BC-based freshman sire Counterforce and is a half-brother to former BC Champion juvenile, Stanz in Command. Indyetta, meanwhile, is another from a BC Stakes-performing family and shouldn’t be overlooked.
All bar Eh Tee Em drop down the ladder for some class relief here, with CATTITUDE making the most significant readjustment, having contested two $50k optional claimers and the Sadie Diamond Stakes in her previous three starts. Trapalis’s third to Dr Benny (with Showman behind) last time gives him a favourite’s chance, while the lightly-raced Lunar New Year lines up here on the back of two outings at the $16k level.
HARBOUR STORM’s second to Northern Kid last month over this distance puts the filly centre stage for this $4k claiming contest. Southern Lass has been knocking on the door, finishing second in her previous two starts, although she has only ventured this far once and was a fairly remote fourth when she did. Silver Arrow plugged on gamely from the rear to finish fourth behind A Tree of Life last time and could be closer this time, while Saver the Kiss’s fourth-place finish should put her in the shake-up as long as she’s suited by the mile-and-sixteenth.
A Tree of Life returns to 6½ furlongs and steps back up the class ladder following a bloodless 12-length victory that concluded with the gelding being claimed. Erlich is the morning line favourite following three okay runs in deeper waters, while FINDING WAYS is another dropping down in class here and, a year ago, beat the useful Smart Lad over today’s distance. A repetition of that would see him go very close. Baklane’s second to Pay My Way, with Finding Ways behind, brings him firmly into contention.
Several of Hastings’ veteran ‘boys of summer’ do battle here, including BLUEGRASS ANGUS, who returns to marginally shallower waters following a respectable third-place finish behind Black Metal last time. Bills Smokn Bullet beat subsequent winner Khaiky’s Command last time and, impressively, has missed the board just once in his previous ten starts, while fellow veteran Sanawar returns to 6½ furlongs following a narrow victory over a mile-and-sixteenth. The All Button and We’re in Command both sit on hat-tricks here, with narrow preference given to the former. Laugh With Me, meanwhile, continues to show admirable consistency and has been less than a length away from victory in all three starts this term.
GUNS N AMMO broke his maiden at the $16k level and this represents the least challenging opportunity of his career to date. Woodbine import Jacobs Call disappointed on his Hastings debut in May but has form back east that entitles him to go very close here if his most recent effort is ignored. Northern Kid won over the mile-and-sixteenth last time for the in-form Cindy Krasner barn and should be thereabouts again while, interestingly, Atomic Haze tries the longer distance for the first time and comes into the equation after he was last seen running on to grab fourth place behind Juvee Too over the shorter trip.
Mike and Drew’s Derby Bar & Grill Picks, Saturday June 9
Dance Shoes Takes the $50k Shirley Vargo at Century Mile
Former Hastings-based handler Jim Brown saddled DANCE SHOES (above, ridden by Dane nelson) to take the $50k Shirley Vargo Handicap at Century Mile on Friday evening. The Barb Heads-trained raiders RUN LOLA RUN and SANGRIA both had their chance and finished third and fourth respectively. The Alberta-bred Dance Shoes, who is by Alberta sire MANK (Pulpit), was following up on last month’s impressive victory in the $50k RedTail Landing Handicap.