Bold Arch faces four on seasonal bow
Bold Arch faces four on seasonal bow
Hastings hosts seven competitive races on Saturday amid rumours of actual sunshine in the forecast. Racegoers will also be able to watch the Preakness Stakes live on the big screen
Trainer Brian “Spud” O’Connell alongside the blanket made for the race named to honour his late mother, Kathy “Cotch” O’Connell. The $28,000 Allowance contest produced an epic finish, with
Porter Gent just besting Cascade Billy.
Saturday’s runners and riders
With runs already this season, Quagmire and RACING RIVER should hold a fitness advantage over their rivals. The two also drop into the bottom tier of claiming contests for this six-and-a-half-furlong opener and will have a big say in the result after both chased home Bluegrass Angus on opening weekend. Trainer Rob Maybin seems to have his barn well forward this season and Master Ewen’s consistency last term (a win coming on the back of five consecutive second-place finishes) brings him into contention.
Four of these five unexposed 3yos are trained by Mark Cloutier and he will presumably hold the key to a fascinating contest. MAKEITORBREAKIT, a winner on his only run to date, gets the assistance of Amadeo Perez from the saddle and had stablemate Country Cowboy behind him that day. Texas Humor has shown up well in the mornings, had subsequent winner Anaamy behind him in July and makes most appeal of the others.
This $21k Allowance event is the highlight of the day on paper and features some of the fastest and most familiar names on the premises. At Attention’s impressive morning work has had the Hastings’ pigeon community on red alert, while SMART LAD, who notched two wins, three seconds and a third from seven starts last term, has the benefit of a winning debut under his belt. Former Canadian Derby winner Explode landed a similar event to this on his reappearance last season. The progressive Bold Arch, meanwhile, who had At Attention behind him in a division of the CTHS Sales Stakes races last season, will have plenty of support.
Heart of Texas looks for a quick follow-up to his opening day win and will strip fitter than some of these. Walkinthewalk ran well enough behind Heart of Texas to suggest he should be closer this time, while both Do You Wanna Go and FULLY LENT have done well in better company than they find here. Sky Factor is another new recruit to Hastings, brought in as part of the successful Fresh Horse Program, and it will be interesting to see where he fits in to the pecking order.
An ultra-competitive heat with cases easily made for most of these. SLEW’S DA BOSS was doing all his best work at the end of his seasonal reappearance on opening day, where he had McMurphy and Coulterberry behind him. Fort Langley, meanwhile, lost out to Bluegrass Angus by a nodding head two weeks ago and should again be thereabouts. Black Metal progressed through the ranks last season and certainly wasn’t out of his depth when fourth behind Coulterberry, Smart Lad and Driller on his last outing. Recent Turf Paradise winner Zero Down makes his first appearance at Hastings for his new trainer Brent Bremner.
Miss The Hype had Drill Baby Drill behind her on opening day, although both were a fair way behind winner Belcarra Park. They will both strip fitter here, however, and are a threat in this competitive-looking fillies’ maiden optional claimer. KAPALUA CANDY has been getting second glances from work watchers this spring and, on a line through recent winner Arikara, a maiden victory looks only a matter of time for the daughter of Twirling Candy. The unraced pair Serengeti’s Sunset and Kay’s Kitchen hold some appeal on pedigree, but may be best watched on their debuts against more experienced rivals.
Five of these seven $4,000 claimers already have runs under their girths – indeed they all chased home Flyunderthegraydar in the same race on opening weekend. Harvest Day finished best of them that day, finishing second, but AIRAFFAIR was not asked too many questions on his seasonal debut, was closing in on the first two at the wire and looks sure to appreciate the extra few yards here. Atomic Haze, with the benefit of a run and a win and four second-place finishes to his credit last term, makes most appeal of the others.
Racing Club News
Best of luck to all the racing club members this weekend as they look forward to seeing HOLLYWOOD MISTRESS in action for the second time this season. She’s in a tough-looking contest again but will certainly not lack support from the grandstand.
Breeders’ round-up
In addition to five BC-bred winners at Hastings last weekend, there was also a hat-trick of winners at Century Mile and standout maiden win at Emerald Downs for the Rob Gilker-trained NINE ONE ONE. Impressively, the 4yo Macleans Music gelding did most of the hard work himself and was a narrow but decisive winner despite being off ther track for 20 months.
Many congratulations to all the local connections.
HASTINGS:
The Kat's Back, by Abraaj out of Classic Alley Kat (Katahaula County)
Breeder: Greystone Farm
Owner: Dennis Spence
Trainer: Cindy KrasnerLaugh With Me, by Bakken out of Miss Me Not (Mass Market)
Breeder: Mr. & Mrs. E. M. Dittloff & K. Dittloff
Owner: Willow Creek Farms
Trainer: Steve HensonLittle Groot, by Harbor the Gold out of Arlington Getaway (Speightstown)
Breeder: Peter Redekop BC Ltd
Owner: Russo, Joe and Russo, Gloria
Trainer: Patty LeaneyJuvee Too, by Second in Command out of Juvee Hall (Graeme Hall)
Breeder: Mr. & Mrs. John Snow
Owner: High Stakes Thoroughbreds and John Snow
Trainer: John Snow
Juvee Too, ridden by Angela Straight - pic Patti Tubbs Porter Gent, by Second in Command out of Faidra (Elusive Quality)
Breeder: Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds
Owner: Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Edgar Mendoza
CENTURY MILE
Irish Trick, by Bakken out of Irish Delta (Finality)
Breeder: Mr. & Mrs. E. M. Dittloff & K. Dittloff
Owner: Lori Going
Trainer: Tim RycroftAsyoubelieve, by Second in Command out of I Believe in Angel (Cause to Believe)
Breeder: Bennett/Caravetta
Owner: Shot In The Dark Racing Corp.
Trainer: Tim RycroftAdrien's Aurora, by Second in Command out of Chilli Chines, (Katowice)
Breeder: White House Stables & George Robbins
Owner: Bar None Ranches Ltd., Central City Stables, Larocque, Darren and Larocque, Tanya
Trainer: Ron Grieves
EMERALD DOWNS
Nine One One by Maclean's Music out of Gift Wrap (Sky Mesa)
Breeder: Steen Reggelsen & Cathy Reggelsen
Owner: Robert and Victoria Gilker
Trainer: Robert Gilker