Friday Night Previews
Friday Night Previews
The long British Columbia Day weekend starts with a bang under the floodlights at Hastings as Friday Night Lights - racing, music and a lay-in on Saturday morning. What could be better than that?!
TEXAS LEGACY has run consistently well this season and drops a little in class here. If she can repeat her most recent effort, when fourth behind Groovin’ is Bak last month, she should go close to landing the opener. SWEET AS HONEY is a little less exposed than some of her rivals and makes just her sixth career start. She had SHE’S ON FIRE behind when second to Best One Yet last time and needs to be on the shortlist. HIGHER IMAGE drops to the bottom rung after struggling further up the ladder this season. She has some excellent form from last season and would be a serious threat if recapturing anything close to that.
There aren’t too many 6-furlong contests after the season’s initial skirmishes and this represents a good opportunity for MAJESTIC STREET who, beaten just a half-length, went down swinging against Sharpzan and Back Shack last time after making most of the running. His last effort at six furlongs was back in May when he ran Sir Bregovic to a neck. A repeat of that would probably be good enough. MONTE gets a significant jockey booking in leading rider Amadeo Perez and the perennial frontrunner might appreciate the slightly shorter distance. Both DYNAMITER’s wins this season have been over the 8½-furlong course and it’s interesting to see him drop back in distance on his first start for new connections since being claimed for the second time this season.
PARKER POINT takes a little class relief here and he can get a much-needed confidence booster in shallower waters than he’s used to. And, although he’s run poorly at this distance on his previous three attempts, he could be hard to handle with Perez in the plate. SLEW’S DA BOSS won last time and has been consistent enough over the ‘long course’ to suggest he will be involved in the shake-up again today. APPELLANT makes some appeal and could represent value at the windows. He was rallying behind Broke an Broken over this distance last time in what looked a hot contest for the class.
BROKE AN BROKEN was patiently ridden last time by Antonio Reyes after ducking out to the left and losing considerable ground early. Allowed to catch up at his own pace, he was putting his best work in late behind today’s rival LAUGH WITH ME and can reverse the tables with a clear run. FAMILY BIZ had Laugh With Me behind two starts ago when winning a similar event but wasn’t a factor over a half-furlong further. Veteran FORT LANGLEY has been the definition of consistent this term and may take advantage of any duelling front-runners in a race that features several horses who like to set the tempo.
BARBERRY BANDIT had today’s rival SOMTHING ELUSIVE behind when chasing home English Bay Teddy two starts ago and then ran Groovin’ is Bak to a couple of lengths when second on his most recent appearance. He’s surely too consistent not to eventually break his maiden; although this is his 14th attempt at doing so. PETERSON LANDING takes on the boys but enjoys a little class relief and this may be much more to her liking after her two most recent efforts when she hit the board. MAGIC ROAD has bumped into some useful sorts of late and this represents a marginally less onerous task. He shouldn’t be far away and has the help of in-form rider, Fraser Aebly.
No quarter asked or given when LIZZIES GIRL ran so well behind Don With the Wind last time. She drops back to 6½ furlongs here but beat subsequent winner Anaamy easily back in May when last running at this class and distance. ANOTHERSUNNYDAY put in her best effort of the season when third to Anaamy and Racino three weeks ago and wouldn’t be winning out of turn. BAKZONE, meanwhile, put in a sterling effort when fading only late in the same race after being near to the exacting pace for much of the way. She’s one for the shortlist. RICHARDS COMMAND would give them plenty to think about if fit but, even though she comes readily to hand, has been off games for almost a year and is entitled to need the outing.
BILLS SMOKN BULLET goes for the eighth win of his career here but is also making his season debut after being out since last October. He’s been working well enough and, on his best form, he’d be the one they have to beat. He may just need this run now he’s a year older, but he’s an absolute ‘must’ for combination bets. RING OF KERRY has a nice turn of foot when required late on and has put in two solid back-to-back efforts in his most recent runs. Like a few of these, he’ll need clear passage if held up for his effort but shouldn’t be far away. The same goes for KNOPFLER, who has missed the board just twice in ten starts but who, infuriatingly, finds traffic trouble with alarming regularity.
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The Jockey Club of Canada Announces 50th Anniversary Race Presentations
The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to announce a series of presentations at race tracks across the country as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations. Beginning with the Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs on August 7, current Jockey Club of Canada members will be attending various key race days at tracks in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. Presentations will be made on the undercard of each race in the new Western Canadian Triple Crown, the undercard of the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, and on the undercard of the prestigious Canadian International (Gr. 1) and E. P. Taylor Stakes (Gr. 1), among others.
Celebrating our 50th anniversary allows us to honour and respect the legacy of our founding members while recognizing the impact that each region has on Thoroughbred racing in Canada. It is a way of thanking and supporting industry members nationwide, including those who have supported us for many years, and raising the profile of the Jockey Club of Canada and the contribution we make to Thoroughbred racing.
The Jockey Club of Canada 50th Anniversary Cup race presentation dates and locations include:
o August 7 at Assiniboia Downs;
o August 26 at Century Mile;
o August 27 at Grande Prairie @ Evergreen Park;
o September 12 at Fort Erie Race Track;
o September 16 at Hastings Racecourse;
o September 16 at Century Downs, and finally
o October 8 at Woodbine Racetrack.
We look forward to having you join in our celebrations!