Canada Day at Hastings
The return of Horse of the Year, three valuable Stakes contests and a hugely competitive supporting program are the perfect way for race fans to celebrate our nation's birthday!
Canada Day Program
Difficult to look beyond ARIKARA in this competitive opener but she won’t have it all her own way despite being dropped in class. Bellaroo makes her debut for the Condilenios barn after being claimed last time and has been a model of consistency in her three runs this season. Sky Factor, Devine Dancer and Living Sky don’t appear to have much between them with marginal preference given to Living Sky who is saddled by the in-form Cindy Krasner.
The last time CALAMAZEUS ran at this level, he won. He runs here following three solid efforts in slightly deeper waters, including a second-place finish that saw Debatable and Flyingunderthegraydar finish behind him. Debatable then won last time over a mile-and-sixteenth and returns to the shorter distance today, as does the consistent Airaffair and Bettin’ Man. Eye Be Seeing You makes his third appearance following two good runs and should be closer today.
The enthusiastic JERSEY LILLIE drops in class here and is morning line favourite to make short work of her opposition. However, with several other front runners in the line-up, she may not have things all her own way. Sungold Beauty returns to 6 ½ furlongs and the bottom rung following a third-place finish over a mile-and-sixteenth last time. Koala’s narrow win over Southern Lass also puts her firmly in the picture, while Groovy Girl drops several rungs of the ladder after carrrying her $20k claiming tag into fourth place last time. Lizzies Girl missed all of last season but put in a solid effort on her season debut earlier this month.
Only two of these eight youngsters have any racetrack experience and the betting market may provide important clues. Ms. STANFORD got going late on in her 3½-furlong debut dash when chasing home impressive winner Calypso Princess, while almost exactly the same thing can be said about Lilsisterlee, who was third behind the useful looking debutante, Rockliffe. Normal progress by one or both on that important first run should see them in the mix here. Both Askmenoquestions and Alberta shipper Readytotapnsing have been going well in the mornings, while Bak to Liberty is a half-brother to reigning horse of the year, Infinite Patience (who makes her seasonal debut in the next race).
All eyes will be on 2021 Horse of the Year, INFINITE PATIENCE, after the brilliant mare won five consecutive races to close out last season. However, while certainly very capable of landing this $50k prize first time out, it will not be an easy task, with seven of Hastings’ best fillies and mares lined up against her. Bayakoas Image has yet to capture her brilliance of last season but has run well on both her starts this term and should be a bigger threat today. Meanwhile, Solarity, Cha Ching and Heidi, the first three home in the $50k Emerald Downs Stakes, will again have plenty to say about the result and even the three nominal outsiders have solid winning form and are not without a chance.
Five of the seven runners in this valuable contest clashed in the George Royal Stakes earlier this month, although the rapid early pace that day makes it a difficult race to decipher. PORTER GENT failed by just a nose to hold off the late arrival of Uncharacteristic, while last season’s claimer of the year Sir Bregovic also ran with great credit to finish third. Set to Shine was fifth but staying on well while, just ahead, was Cascade Billy keeping on in fourth. Be Quick, trailed throughout the George Royal but was previously unbeaten in five races and is another worthy of consideration here. Former Canadian Derby winner Explode has run well on both his outings this term but returns to 6½ furlongs after his previous effort over a mile-and-sixteenth. Fort Langley, meanwhile, has thrilled fans this season with two eye-catching victories, albeit in less challenging company than he faces here.
Only one of these has experience over a mile-and-sixteenth and it will be interesting to see who best handles the extra yardage. Country Cowboy seemed full of running when beating Texas Humor and Visenya last time, while Barney Google, making late progress back in fifth, should be better suited to the longer trip. Both Hanky Pranky and Makeitorbreakit won their season debuts in style before they missed the board when stepping up to Stakes company next time. FLORIDA GATOR, meanwhile, makes his first Hastings appearance since arriving as part of the Fresh Horse program. His previous runs this season have been at Parx, Aqueduct and Keeneland and, if he adjusts to the unique demands of the bullring, can play a major role.
2021 Hastings Thoroughbred Awards Winners
The trophies for last year’s winners of the Hastings Thoroughbred Awards were presented in the paddock between races last weekend.
Many congratulations to all the winners!
