Day of Debuts
Former Godolphin runner Boitano makes his Hastings debut for new connections, while plenty of youngsters get a first chance to stretch their legs in three juvenile contests
He’s Relentless sits on a hat-trick of wins here and will be hoping to repeat his Steal Home back in June. Black Metal, meanwhile, was upped in distance and class after winning at the $12.5k level earlier this season and led gate-to-wire last time to beat the ultra-consistent Parker Point. SMART LAD has been mixing it with the big boys of late and this represents a good opportunity to get back to winning ways, albeit at a distance over which he is yet to score.
Both Force to Rekn With and ABOVE AVERAGE learned plenty on their debuts and will know a lot more about the game today. Preference is marginally for the latter but there’s probably not much between the two youngsters. Milo’s Command will need to inprove on his debut but he represents a barn in good form and can’t be ignored. The betting market should provide clues to the chances of the unraced trio.
Lilsisterlee makes the fourth start of her young career and her extra experience should help. At the other end of the scale, Better With Time makes her debut but has been working well in the mornings. Silarone, meanwhile, has also shown up well in the mornings and he broke poorly from the gate on his debut, losing any chance in the process. That probably applies also to WELLSLEY, whose tardy start made the rest of his debut a schooling session. Matsqui did her best work late in both of her races and should appreciate the extra yardage.
All eyes will be on Hastings’ newbie BOITANO, who makes his track debut after being acquired from the powerful Godolphin operation. If he adapts to the vagaries of the East Van oval, he may take some stopping. Just Jimmy had Florida Gator just behind him last time, although this represents uncharted territory in terms of distance, while Florida Gator has already run and won over the 8½ furlong course. Prince Cairo may have been out of his depth last time and should be a different proposition today, while Boitano’s stablemate Eddie Who won last month at just the second time of asking and may still be improving.
This represents a drop in class for REA MEA, who returns to 6½ furlongs after an unsuccessful Stakes bid over 8½ furlongs last time. Prior to that, she held Floral comfortably after making all the running to win at a marginally higher level than this. Pretty Aria and Arikara are on hat-tricks after both winning consecutive races in slightly less exacting company than they meet here, while Queen of Attitude has won in this company previously and ran perfectly well in her two previous starts at Stakes level.
Road Closure missed the break on his debut but made up the ground quickly and went down by just a neck to a more experienced rival. The unraced Sunbird, meanwhile, was purchased out of the late Glen Todd’s dispersal sale and has been going particularly well in the mornings. BRIAN’S DE LEIGHT may have bumped into an above average performer in Logical Al on his debut and can go one better here on his second run.
ICE BREAKER has another swing with a $6250 tag and, although he takes on 8½ furlongs for the first time, has run as though it souldn’t be a problem. Texas Humor’s second to Bellaroo last time probably makes him the main danger, while Southern Lass’s win last time received another boost when Silver Arrow (who was third that day) stepped up to win at the next time of asking. Groovy Girl’s fourth behind Koala and Ice Breaker last time brings her into the equation.
Mike and Drew’s Derby Bar and Grill Picks
Recycling to help each other
