Attention Gives Notice
At Attention shook off any winter cobwebs he was entitled to have with a typically gutsy win on his season debut, serving notice of his well-being ahead of the summer's big races
HIGHLIGHTS:
Antonio Reyes had three winners on the day
Amadeo Perez followed yesterday’s six-timer with another double
Trainer Barbara Heads had two visits to the winners circle
The handle was $565,425
All seven winners were bred here in B.C.
A cold breeze and overcast periods failed to darken the Father’s Day mood, as a good-sized crowd of racegoers revelled in a wonderfully-competitive afternoon of exciting action. The rain stayed away and the track remained fair and fast throughout.
Race 1.
The first race on Father’s Day went to Renfrew Racing, B and B Racing, No Trump Stable, Matt Elder and Bill Breen's MATSQUI ($3.60), who settled a couple to lengths off of the early pace, started to creep up on the backside and ground out a hard-fought victory in the lane, finishing up in 1:18.76 for rider Amadeo Perez and trainer Mark Freeman. Don and Sue Danard's B C CHRISTIE was much better today, breaking well and tracking the comfortable tempo (22.90, 47.46), and led turning for home but couldn’t hold off MATSQUI. The Willow Creek Farm’s C C SUNRISE also improved, breaking on top, setting the pace and staying on well to get third money.
Race 2.
The second went to the Goonshow Stable’s FINDING WAYS ($6.60), who led the field gate to wire under Silvino Morales, getting fractions of 22.25 and 45.77 and just lasted to win in 1:17.15 for trainer Dino Condilenios. Don Musgrove and Lyle Johnson's PARKER POINT took his usual position at the back of the pack and rallied late to get the runner-up spot. Stan Sharma’s VALUABLE COWBOY was rated early and joined FINDING WAYS on the lead heading to the far turn, stayed with that one until the stretch but yielded late and held third .
Race 3.
The third proved an ideal setup for the Saphire Stables and Ted Feenstra's SHAMRA, who bided her time in behind the leaders, watching a quick and contested pace and just got up in deep stretch to claim victory for trainer Jim Loseth and rider Brian Boodramsingh in 1:17.71. Russ and Lois Bennett's VIVA LA VINO set a lively pace with the Swift Thoroughbreds’ BUNNY duelling through splits of 22.04 and 45.19 and those two finished in a photo for second and third with VIVA LA VINO getting the nod.
Race 4.
The day’s feature race was won by Bryan and Carol Anderson's AT ATTENTION, who turned-in a good run off of an eight-month layoff, coming from just off the pace under Antonio Reyes and stayed game in the stretch to win in 1:44.23 for trainer Barbara Heads. Warren Wilson, Neil Stajkowski, June Sutherland, Ross Switzer and Barry Hickman's PAY MY WAY made a huge move from last to challenge in the stretch and ended a very impressive runner-up under Ridge Balgobin for trainer Charlene Miller. Larry Potozny, Peter Langelaan and Wil-a-Way Farm’s FLORIDA GATOR raced on the pace with SIR BREGOVIC and put that rival away, but couldn’t stay with the top two and finished a close third.
Race 5.
The fifth went to the heavily favoured DYNAMITER, owned by Russ and Lois Bennett. The Sungold four-year-old sped through quick fractions of 23.31, 47.06 and 1:13.01 and just found the finish line first in 1:48.44, giving rider Antonio Reyes and trainer Barbara Heads back-to-back scores. Judy Bradley's SOMETHING ELUSIVE settled off of the fast tempo and put in a good run on the final turn under Learie Seecharan to be second for veteran conditioner, Jim Smith. Rob and Sheena Maybin's MILO'S COMMAND rallied from off the pace to get third.
Claims:
DYNAMITER was claimed by owners Georges and Eleutherios Geogeopoulos for trainer Nicole Rycroft
MILO’S COMMAND was claimed by owners Dreamtime Stable and Sasquatch Stables for trainer Greg Beneen
SOMETHING ELUSIVE was claimed by owner/trainer James Strachan
Race 6.
The sixth went to Ernie Chu, Rob and Vicky Gilker's Y VEE R, who was sharp away from the gate, set ambitious fractions of 23.61, 47.20 and 1:12.21 under Antonio Reyes but had plenty in reserve to win in 1:45.19 for trainer Rob Gilker. Warren Wilson, Neil Stajkowski, June Sutherland, Barry Hickman and Lesley Small's WISELY PLAYED enjoyed a comfortable trip far behind the early speedsters and, when called upon by Fraser Aebly, he put in a nice move, weaving through the field to get up for second for trainer Charlene Miller. The Canoe Pass Stable and Craig MacPherson's LOGICAL AL was also far back early after encountering some traffic issues away from the gate, but put in strong, late kick under Kerron Khelawan to be a close third.
Race 7.
The final race was won by Canmor Farm's MAKEITORBREAKIT, who rallied between runners on the final bend, then angled to the rail under Amadeo Perez to get up to win in a tight photo in 1:18.15 for trainer Mark Cloutier. Michelle Roberts-Henson and Mark McGinnis’ RACING RIVER chased a hot pace of 21.95 and 45.40, made the lead into the stretch and led until the final jump under Silvino Morales. Stewart Spencer's KNOPFLER enjoyed a good trip on the inside with Kerron Khelawan up and ran another good race to be third.
BC-Breds Win All Seven!
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Monday, June 19
Racing resumes at Hastings next Saturday, June 24, with a 2:00 p.m. start.
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