Diamonds at the Double for Mendoza
Another good-sized crowd on hand to witness a three-timer for trainer Edgar Mendoza, as he saddles winners of both $50k Stakes races on another action-packed afternoon at Hastings
Race 1.
The Sunday opener went to Derek Harris and Pat Marini's ADITYA who forgot to look at his birth certificate prior to the race as he ran like a youngster being forced wide and still got up for his 15th career victory in 1:17.58 for jock Antonio Reyes and trainer Barbara Heads. The 10 year old son of Mass Market has always been a consistent type and returned $8.20 for his loyal supporters. Julie Wicks and Frank Iaci’s KHAIKY'S COMMAND ran another big race battling on the pace throughout (22.50,46.22) raced gamely to the wire and ended up a close second. The D & E Racing Stables BILLS SMOKN BULLET was up on the pace and stayed on well to be third.
Race 2.
The second of the day was won by the Hastings Horsepower and Minnaloushe Stables KNOPFLER ($9.20) who battled through very quick and contested fractions (22.14,45.61) fended off all challengers and won impressively in 1:18.52 for Learie Seecharan and trainer David Milburn. KNOPFLER was claimed for $8,000 by Sean Ederer and Stewart Spencer for trainer Keith Pedersen. The Will-a-Way Farm’s CALAMAZEUS was also impressive in his 2022 debut sitting just in behind the speed and looked like a danger on the final bend but couldn’t quite get there and settled for a very good runner-up effort. Jim Strachan’s DEBATABLE closed up smartly on the inside and was travelling well at the end and took home third money.
Race 3.
The third race went to Christine Ammann's REA MEA who sat a perfect trip on the outside and ran down the speed to win in a good 1:17.15 for Silvino Morales and trainer Edgar Mendoza. The daughter of LENT did have go survive a stewards inquiry but the results were allowed to stand. The Canyon Farms’ FLORAL was away a little slow but rallied strongly in the final quarter-mile to just get up for second. Bill DeCoursey and Bob Leffler's DEFINITE PLEASURE set a comfortable pace 22.23 and let the field come to her in a slow half-mile in 46.03 and couldn’t sprint home with the top two to the wire and ended up third.
Race 4.
The fourth race was easily taken down by Lorie Henson and Helen Klimes’ QUEEN OF ATTITUDE ($5.30) who didn’t leave the gate in much of a hurry then used the rail to her advantage on the first turn to slide into the third spot early behind sensible splits of 22.30 and a half 46.42. Amadeo Perez stayed down on the inside until the stretch turn tipped off the fence and blew by the speed to win going away in a sharp 1:17.15 for trainer Steve Henson. Rob and Sheena Maybin's OSTRACIZE raced a little wide early then found the rail approaching the far turn and ran on well through the stretch to gain the second place cheque. The Hastings Racing Club's HOLLYWOOD MISTRESS ran a much improved race second time out this year as she closed up quickly through the lane to get the third spot.
Race 5.
The fifth race was the co-feature of the day the $50,000 Jack Diamond Maturity Stakes and leading throughout was Dave and Sylvea Gregory's SOARINGFORTHESUN ($7.10) who set a very comfortable early pace 23.30 and 47.19 and easily drew way when it counted with Amadeo Perez up for Edgar Mendoza in 1:17.58. The Willow Creek Farms MOUNT ASGARD was off a touch slow and then moved up on the inside to get into the second spot early to challenge SOARINGFORTHESUN but started to lose contact with him on the stretch turn and ended up settling for the runner-up spot. Kim Peacock and Lance Giesbrecht's REGAL RIOT broke on top but was reined in passed the stands for the first time and wound a wide fourth early then started to rally on the final turn but was given too much to do behind the slow fractions and just missed getting second and wound up third.
Race 6.
The sixth of the day was the $50,000 Sadie Diamond Maturity for three year old fillies and as expected the 1-9 favorite U DID IT ($2.40) delivered another impressive performance racking up her fourth win in as many starts for rider Antonio Reyes and trainer Edgar Mendoza. She did have to work a little harder than in the past cruising through fractions of 22.24 and 46.14 but she still found two pesky opponents biting at her heels turning for home so she had to show her class and seal the deal which she did in 1:17.65. There was dead-heat for second between the Sapphire Stables SHAMRA and Conrad Rozenek's MARYS TAPPIN SHOES who both took tracking trips and finished on even terms for second at the wire.
Race 7.
The seventh and final dash went to the Ironside Stables CHASE THE SUN ($2.60) who could not have been any more impressive as he snuck through on the rail during the backstretch run and built up a huge lead approaching the stretch and finished a five and half length victor in a rapid 1:16.98 under Alex Marti for trainer Rob VanOverschot. The Star Lot Stables DON W suffered from a wide trip but still managed to rally past the rest to get the second place prize. The Willow Creek Farms ALL LIQUORD UP turned in a solid effort and was just outrun for second and ended up third.
HIGHLIGHTS :
Amadeo Perez and Antonio Reyes both had riding doubles on the day.
Trainer Edgar Mendoza had a brilliant day winning three on the afternoon and swept both stakes races.
The carryovers sit at $6,562 for the Pick 5 and $2,878 for the Pick 6.
The handle came in at $553,984.
Racing resumes next Saturday, May 28th with a seven-race program starting at 2:00 p.m.
And finally…
Hastings raider JUST JIMMY finished a game runner-up at Emerald Downs on Sunday, with Blaine Wright taking care of saddling duties for Craig MacPherson. The 3yo Jimmy Creed gelding, who was second in last August’s $50k CTHS Sales Stakes and broke his maiden the following month, found just one too good in the $25k Allowance Optional Claimer over 5 1/2 furlongs.
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