Class Triumphs in Sunday's Stakes
Last season's leading juveniles, Legacy Square and Air Force, saw off all-comers to strengthen their collective grip on the three-year-old division
Highlights
Trainer Dino Condilenios had a double on the day
Kerron Khelawan had two riding victories
The handle was $608,288
Six of Sunday’s seven winners were bred here in British Columbia
The Holiday weekend weather continued to blaze away at Hastings on Sunday. The worst of the heat was tempered by a welcome breeze as the track remained lickety-split quick throughout the afternoon.
Race 1.
The Sunday opener saw Jordan Froelich's IMA DAREDEVIL ($13.90) close from last to first to just get up in the final stride under Kerron Khelawan in 1:18.36 for trainer Dino Condilenios. WYN Racing Stables’ DON'TPASSTHEPEPPER showed good speed from her inside draw under Kimal Santo, was pressured through splits of 22.40 and 45.51 and was an unlucky loser, just getting nailed at the wire. Dennis Spence’s THE KAT'S BACK plied her trade from off the pace and had to settle for third after encountering significant trouble on the stretch turn which may have cost her the win.
Race 2.
The second of the afternoon was won by Don and Sue Danard's B C CHRISTIE ($3.70) who showed good speed under Brian Boodramsingh, battling on the pace through fractions of 22.61 and 46.80 and bravely fought on to win by the narrowest of margins in 1:19.02 for trainer Mel Snow. Blue Willow Dairy and Forster Stable's CHI CHI’S SONG was away well but taken back by Amadeo Perez. They made a big run on the final turn and just missed. The Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds and James Redekop's PETERSON LANDING was given every shot by Kimal Santo, tucked in behind the speed before angling out turning for home and finishing a close third.
Race 3.
The third was the first two-year-old race of the young season and getting the win was Swift Thoroughbreds’ PISCO ($9.30), who took full advantage of his outside post, galloping up to join the speed approaching the far turn and just got up in the stretch under Kerron Khelawan in 40.27 for trainer Dino Condilenios. WYN Racing Stables’ DONNA WYN broke sharply, took the lead and led into the stretch, but appeared to duck in at the sixteenth pole hit the rail, losing momentum, and had to settle for second. Peter Redekop's AUGUST RAIN was very good in his debut, sitting in behind runners and finished sharply to be third under Amadeo Perez.
Race 4.
The fourth went to Michelle Roberts-Henson and Mark McGinnis’ RACING RIVER ($4.30), who was rated perfectly early by Silvino Morales, getting an easy first quarter mile in 22.83 before things quickened noticeably on the backside, catching a half-mile in 46.19. He battled gamely in between horses and barely ran by a very stubborn QUAGMIRE in deep stretch to get the win in 1:17.07 for trainer Rob Henson. Lorie Henson, Helen Klimes and Sharon Pring's QUAGMIRE was also ultra game as he was on the pace with RACING RIVER, battled head to head but just got beat late in a very solid effort under Fraser Aebly. Sasquatch Stables’ RING OF KERRY got rolling late and nailed down third money in the stretch.
Race 5 — the $50,000 Chris Loseth Handicap Stakes
The $50,000 Chris Loseth, named for the BC Horse Racing Hall of Fame jockey, went to the heavily favoured LEGACY SQUARE ($3.90) who did not disappoint his backers, winning well under Amadeo Perez for trainer Edgar Mendoza. The son of Lent broke well but opted to take in behind the speed, shifted to the rail on the backstretch and ground out the victory in 1:43.83. WYN Racing Stables’ ACCIDENTAL HERO was a little wide early but found his way to the inside under Kimal Santo on the clubhouse turn, split horses at the eighth pole and was flying late; just missing by less than a length. Ed Claggett's LUCKY FORCE was off a step slow, rushed up to lead the field through sensible fractions of 23.84, 47.66 and 1:12.52 under Ridge Balgobin, ran with LEGACY SQUARE to the stretch but started to lose ground in the final eighth ending up a good third considering it was his first try long and under a 123 pound impost.
Race 6 — The $50,000 Supernaturel Handicap Stakes
The $50,000 Supernaturel, named for the brilliant race mare who was owned by Roy and Dixie Jacobson, trained by Don Morrison and campaigned in Vancouver in the late 1980s. The winner was Dennis Dale, Morris Peter and Ed Welsh's AIR FORCE ($6.20), who was sent right to the lead by Antonio Reyes and was able to set moderate splits of 24.31, 48.09 and six furlongs in a slow 1:13.06 and she had lots left in the tank to win in 1:44..74 for trainer Keith Pedersen. WYN Racing Stables’ KEY TO SUCCESS settled in behind the pace and did well to get up to be second despite the slow early fractions giving the connections their third runner-up finish of the day. JDP Holdings’ FORCE TO REKN WITH was held far back off of the pace and made a big rally up the rail to get the third spot under Brian Boodramsingh for trainer Rob VanOverschot.
Race 7.
The finale was won by Canyon Farm's PURSUE($11.60), who was far back off the early fractions under Jose Sanchez and made a huge run on the final turn and breezed by the tired front runners in the lane to win going away in 1:17.23 for conditioner Craig MacPherson. Nicole Droder's TIZ VICIOUS was sharp early and attended the pace in the three path under Kerron Khelawan, put his pace rivals (22.31, 45.17) away but couldn’t hold off stablemate PURSUE and ended up clear runner-up for trainer Craig MacPherson. The Hastings Horsepower and Minnaloushe Stables I'M CORFU raced up on the quick pace in the two path and stayed on gamely in his Hastings debut to be third.
Claims:
FINDING WAYS was claimed by owners Mainline Stables for Trainer Nicole Rycroft
Bloodhorse Headlines — Monday, July 3
Racing at Hastings resumes next Saturday, July 8th, with a seven race program starting at 2:00 p.m.
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