Back With a Bang
Last year's leading juveniles LEGACY SQUARE and AIR FORCE both made impressive returns to action, winning their respective heats in style
HIGHLIGHTS :
Jockey Amadeo Perez lands a three-timer
The Pick 5 carried over and sits at $2,241
The handle was $513,874
Five of the day’s seven winners were bred in B.C.
The start of the long weekend for Victoria Day, added to the continuing warm weather brought another good-sized crowd to Hastings on Saturday. The track was fast all day and appeared to favour horses at, or close to, the head of affairs.
Race 1.
The first event on Saturday was won by Rob and Sheena Maybin’s BELLAROO ($7.30), who took a nice trip behind the speed and scooted up the inside in the lane to win in a quick 1:16.76 under Amadeo Perez, as last seasons top owner and rider hook to win the opener. The Side Pot Stables’ ARIKARA set an uncontested pace of 22.18 and 45.47, then drifted slightly turning for home but held well for second. The Side Pot Stables’ WALKINTHEWALK was far back early and ran on late to be third.
Race 1 claims:
ARIKARA was claimed by owner/trainer Greg Beneen
Race 2.
The second of the day saw a brilliant return to the races from Russ and Lois Bennett's SET TO SHINE ($5.40), who galloped up to lead early through fractions of 22.45 and 45.70, then widened on the final turn and won by 7¾-lengths for Amadeo Perez and trainer Barbara Heads in a sparkling 1:15.63. The Nite and Day Stable and Joanne Todd's HE'S RELENTLESS rode the rail the entire race and secured the second spot in the stretch. Russ and Lois Bennett's BLACK METAL had every chance and wound up third.
Race 3.
The third of the afternoon was won by Gary Johnson, Zeta Hannah and Sharlea Stable's ZETAMARIE ($29.40), who was resolute in the stretch to win in 1:17.80 under in-form apprentice Fraser Aebly. The daughter of 2010 Belmont Stakes winner Drosselmeyer was in perfect striking position and swung out into the stretch to just get up at the wire for Hall of Fame trainer Frank Barroby. Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds’ QUALITY COMMAND set the pace (22.28, 45.80) under Amadeo Perez and just got nailed in the last jump. Praven Sorensen and Mort Hall's ARTISTIC JEWLER was content to relax at the back of the pack but was forced six-wide on the stretch turn and settled for a closing third-place cheque.
Race 4.
The fourth was an allowance race for the top three-year-old fillies and proving best was Dennis Dale, Morris Peter and Ed Welsh's AIR FORCE ($6.30), who led throughout (22.45, 46.04) under Antonio Reyes for trainer Keith Pedersen to win in classy style in 1:17.26. Canmor Farm's ABOVE AVERAGE tackled the winner from the gate and they lodged a six-and-half-furlong battle and, although outpointed by the 2022 two-year-old champ, easily held second. Marty Miller's LOVEABOVEANDBEYOND was settled far back off of the early leaders and made a solid charge late to get third money.
Race 5 — The Danny Macdonald Memorial Purse
The fifth on the program was a runaway performance by ReinDance Farm's BAKKEN OVERDRIVE ($21.80) who, unchallenged through splits of 22.26 and 45.37, built up an insurmountable lead to the stretch and won easily in 1:16.18 under Kimal Santo for trainer Cindy Krasner. Century Plaza Stables’ STORMY BLUE was well back off of the pace and put in a solid late run to claim the second spot. The Hastings Racing Club's PRINCE CAIRO used the rail to his advantage to nail down third.
Race 6.
The sixth on the card was an allowance for three-year-olds prepping for the first Stakes race in early June. Taking home the top prize was the heavily favoured LEGACY SQUARE ($3.00), who chose to sit back off the moderate pace and sprinted home sharply for Amadeo Perez to win in 1:17.01 for owners Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds and James Redekop and trainer Edgar Mendoza. The Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds and James Redekop's ROCKCLIFFE was game in defeat after setting fractions of 22.60 and 46.01 and just held second ahead from Jerry Billan's TIME TICKER - who was travelling well at the end.
Race 7.
The seventh of the day went to JDP Holdings’ FORCE TO REKN WITH, who was keen early under Silvino Morales and set sensible fractions of 22.54 and a soft half-mile of 47.14. The pace enabled her to have plenty left in the tank to win in the clear in 1:18.54 for conditioner Rob VanOverschot. Canyon Farm's PURSUE was tough to load into the gate but ran a solid race, closing strongly through the lane to be second under Jose Sanchez for trainer Craig MacPherson. Darryl Hammond, Kristy Hammond, Bill Dobie and John Snow's TEXAS LEGACY suffered from a wide trip but still managed to save the third spot.
Spotted at the Races
Preakness Replay
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines, Sunday May 20
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