Big Win for Rycroft
Big Win for Rycroft
BIG UNION takes the George Royal Stakes to give first-season handler Nicole Rycroft her first Stakes victory with only her third runner.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Amadeo Perez led all riders with three victories.
Silvino Morales had a riding double.
The handle was better at $453,912.
The Pick 5 was hit and paid a generous $3,873.20.
Another glorious afternoon at Hastings, as the clear blue skies and worryingly-long dry spell continued unabated. The track conditions remained fast all afternoon with the majority of races again favouring horses on the sharp end.
Race 1.
The Saturday opener saw a valiant performance from the Hastings Horsepower and Minnaloushe Stable’s TIZ VICIOUS ($11.50) who was game throughout, winning in 1:16.80 and giving Learie Seecharan his riding win of the season. The son of Violence broke well and was sent off to lead through sensible splits of 22.64 and 45.98 and briefly appeared in trouble - but he battled to the wire to gain the victory for trainer Dave Milburn. Willow Creek Farms’ LAUGH WITH ME had dead aim on the leaders the entire trip and finished a good second. Russ and Lois Bennett's BLACK METAL had every shot to win but had to settle for a close third.
Race 2.
The second went to Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds’ STAY FANTASTIC ($8.10), who led from gate to wire under Amadeo Perez, setting slow fractions of 24.94, 49.04 and stayed strong to the finish for trainer Edgar Mendoza to win in 1:45.01. Joe and Gloria Russo's SHOTGUN RIDER was away in good order under Kerron Khelawan, sat on the outside of STAY FANTASTIC the whole journey and just missed in a brilliant effort; ending up a nose in behind the winner. WYN Racing Stables’ FAMILY BIZ was content to relax early, trailing the field before putting in a big move on the final turn to finish a close third.
Race 3.
The third of the afternoon was won by Nite and Day Stable, Joanne Todd and Steve and Diane Comparelli's LOLA M who, after a tardy beginning, rushed up to get the lead through comfortable easy splits (22.81, 47.24). She then drew away under Silvino Morales to prove best for trainer Brian O'Connell, winning in 1:18.00. Lyle Johnson, Mark Johnson and Clive Harding’s ARUNDEL CASTLE turned in another good run as she closed up late to be second and is one to watch when these maidens stretch out and go long. The Forster Stables and Blue Willow Dairy’s CHI CHI’S SONG made a huge improvement and checked in third after encountering traffic issues at the far turn.
Race 4.
The fourth was a runaway victory by the Forster and Ace in the Hole Stable’s KOALA, who set lively fractions of 22.32 and 45.65, then proved miles the best when asked as she drew away to win in 1:16.99 under Silvino Morales for Hall of Fame conditioner Dave Forster. The Bulldog Brothers Racing and Paul Lesmaurier's ANIMA tracked the speed on the rail and got up late to be best of the rest. Fred and Sheldon Kwan's BAKZONE used the rail to her advantage and just missed getting second and ended up third under Kuri Powell .
Race 5 - The $50,000 George Royal Stakes
The fifth race was the $50,000 George Royal for the best older horse sprinters at Hastings and taking home the top prize was Sherlye Benson, Dennis Dale, Tabitha Perry, Cathy and Kelly Rycroft's BIG UNION ($13.50), who cleverly opted to sit far back off of the blazing early fractions (21.53, 44.63) under the controls of Ridge Balgobin. Ridge guided him to the three path on the stretch turn and he easily breezed by the pacesetters to win going away in 1:16.62 for first-season trainer Nicole Rycroft. Dave and Sylvea Gregory's SOARINGFORTHESUN was last early and made a menacing move on the final bend to get in contention but could not get near the winner and settled for second money. ReinDance Farm's BAKKEN OVERDRIVE was absolutely awesome today as he fought off his rivals on the head end and stayed on gamely for the third spot.
Race 6 - The $50,000 Emerald Downs Stakes
The sixth race was the $50,000 Emerald Downs stakes for older fillies and mares going six and a half furlongs and fastest was the Willow Creek Farms’ WE B THREE ($4.20), who encountered some traffic trouble while racing in between horses until Amadeo Perez seized the opportunity into the lane as the rail opened, shooting through to win easily in 1:16..58 for trainer Steve Henson. Christine Ammann's REA MEA set an uncontested pace of 22.20 and 45.81 and she proved a tough mare to run by as she raced courageously to the wire and checked in a clear runner-up. The Nite and Day Stable and Joanne Todd's BAYAKOAS IMAGE was impressive in her return to the races after an 11-month break as she raced close to the pace and stayed gamely for third.
Race 7.
The last on the card was a decisive victory by Roy and Dixie Jacobson’s COUNTRY COWBOY ($4.70), who found the lead easily, setting easy fractions of 22.94 and 46.79 and had the lead turning for home before drawing off to win by three lengths under Amadeo Perez for conditioner Mark Cloutier in 1:17.96. Joe and Gloria Russo's DEPUTYS DANCER made an impressive first up run here in Vancouver after campaigning in Phoenix for the winter as he rallied from just off the pace to be second. Sandra Corsan’s TEX TONIC closed up nicely at 40-1 odds to gain the third spot.
New Stride News
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines - Sunday, June 4
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