Friday Night Fun

The final Friday Night action of the season brought another sizeable crowd to Hastings as revellers were treated to an evening of magnificent racing - and wrestling!

Mike Heads

and

Nigel Reid

Aug 19, 2023

Fighting finish: Amadeo Perez (right) aboard SILK STILETTOS noses out ARTISTIC JEWLER and Antonio Reyes in a ding-dong battle to the wire at Hastings on Friday night — *photo Michael Bye*

HIGHLIGHTS

Amadeo Perez rode three winners on the card.
Trainer Rob VanOverschot saddled ITSMYDAY to land the feature Allowance at Century Mile
The handle was $535,431.

**Another good-sized crowd of racegoers come out to celebrate the weekend and the final Friday night racing of the summer at Hastings** — *photo Michael Bye*

The stiff, cool breeze that has helped create such awful wildfire conditions throughout the province, made for a chilly evening at Hastings for anyone who had forgotten their hoodie, jacket or sweater. The dry wind made for a fast track, with five of the seven races going to horses drawn one or two in the gate.

Race 1.
The first race on Friday night went to Tanya Lipkovitts ANAAMY ($7.70) who was resolute on the head end under Amadeo Perez, racing on the lead through sensible fractions of 22.85 and 46.12 and raced gamely to the wire to win in 1:17.37 for trainer Nicole Rycroft. Rob and Sheena Maybin's JERSEY LILLIE ran a much improved race under Chris Mamdeen as the tandem showed good speed battling with the winner and just missed finishing a clear runner-up. Jim and Anne Alendal’s HARLAN'S ANGEL was content to settle in third behind the speed and ran on well to be third under Kimal Santo for conditioner Cindy Krasner.

ANAAMY (Amadeo Perez, rail) — photo Patti Tubbs

Race 2.
The second of the evening saw Don Tetaranko's SILK STILETTOS ($3.70) lead from start to finish under Amadeo Perez through quick splits of 23.92, 47.51 and 1:11.92 and, similar to the first race, lost the lead and battled back for the victory in 1:45.32 for trainer Craig MacPherson. Mort Hall and Praven Sorensen's ARTISTIC JEWLER ran well in defeat, chasing the pace and coming up just a nose short. G.O. Stables and Alexa Ramirez's TEXAS HUMOR was well back early, staying clear of the quick early tempo, and came running late to be a distant third under Silvino Morales.

SILK STILETTOS (Amadeo Perez, rail) beats Artistic Jewler — *photo Patti Tubbs*

Race 3 — Dennis Tucker Memorial purse

The third of the night was the Dennis Tucker Memorial purse and fittingly taking the win was the Estate of Dennis Tucker and Brian Albertson’s INDYETTA ($13.60), who continued the trend of wire-to-wire winners as she raced on easy fractions of 23.24 and a very slow half-mile split of 47.25 under Kimal Santo. The pair had tons left late to win in a sparkling 1:17.62 for trainer Cindy Krasner. Jerry Billan's TIME TICKER fell victim to the slow pace and could only rescue second money as the 6-5 favourite. Canyon Farm's BACK SHACK sat a relaxed trip in the outside of the winner under Ridge Balgobin and ended up third.

*CTHS Yearling Sale Update: Hip #2 is a BAKKEN half-brother to INDYETTA*

INDYETTA (Kimal Santo) — *photo Patti Tubbs*

Race 4.
The fourth of the day went to Peter Redekop's AQUITANIA ARRIVAL ($3.30) who endured a tough trip between runners on a scorching pace of 21.91 and 44.70 under Amadeo Perez, but he had another gear when needed and drew away to smart victory in 1:16.04 for trainer Barbara Heads. Century Plaza Stables’ STORMY BLUE was in a perfect striking position with Antonio Reyes five or six lengths off of the torrid pace duel. They made a nice move on the final turn but couldn’t get near the winner. Mainline Stable’s FINDING WAYS took his usual spot on the lead but had to earn it and was a little tired from his early efforts and ended up third.

AQUITANIA ARRIVAL (Amadeo Perez) — *photo Patti Tubbs*

Race 5.
The fifth on the Friday program was won by D and E Racing's LIZZIES GIRL ($3.20), who led throughout under Silvino Morales, the pair setting sensible fractions of 23.83, 47.60 and 1:13.22 before drawing away to an authoritative triumph in 1:45.97 for trainer Tara Neigel. Willow Creek Farm's BAKFIRE BABY was carefully rated by Antonio Reyes and she ran a big one in her first ever try at a mile and a sixteenth finishing a clear runner-up. Fred and Sheldon Kwan's BAKZONE raced close to the pace under Kuri Powell and she stayed on gamely to win a tight photo for third money for veteran conditioner Harold Barroby.

LIZZIES GIRL (Silvino Morales) — *photo Patti Tubbs*

Race 6.
The sixth of the evening was won by J G Williamson Racing’s GOOD BYE PUTIN ($12.80) who survived an inquiry after riding the rails to victory under Fraser Aebly for trainer Steve Henson in 1:45.39. Finishing second was Rob and Sheena Maybin's AVE'S IN COMMAND, who led through splits of 24.01, 48.35 and 1:13.21 and finished a game runner-up, but was held accountable in the incident at the head of the stretch and was relegated to fifth. WYN Racing Stables’ FAMILY BIZ was stuck in traffic through much of the trip, shook loose late and closed sharply to be third and was promoted to second. Helen Jewell's APPELLANT flew late to be fourth and was moved up to third.

Claims:
FAMILY BIZ was claimed by Owner Nicole Droder for trainer Craig MacPherson

GOOD BYE PUTIN (Fraser Aebly) — *photo Patti Tubbs*

Race 7.
The last of the night saw Minnaloushe Stables and Dave Milburn's YOU DON'T OWN ME ($36.20) earn a hard-fought victory under Learie Seecharan. He entered contention on the stretch turn and seemed beaten in the lane but rallied gamely to secure his first trip to the winners circle this year for conditioner Dave Milburn, finishing up in a good 1:18.14. Stewart Spencer's KNOPFLER turned in a huge run after suffering from a four wide journey and just missed. Sasquatch Stables RING OF KERRY was a little farther back than usual and made good ground late to finish a close third.