Friday Night Previews
Friday Night Previews
The dogs will be back at Hastings to add fun and games aplenty on what is the final Friday night racing of the season. Come and help us wring out the last days of summer and enjoy the East Van vibe!
WITH a solid second-place effort on her career debut, ANOTHER LAST DANCE holds a distinct advantage here as she takes on a group of debutantes and the form of that race was boosted when the winner went on to twice finish second in Stakes contests. SAILING FORCE has the dreaded inside gate to overcome, but has been showing up well in the mornings and is from a good BC family, while Canyon Farms’ homebred KITTEN KANDY is a full-sister to Hastings winner, Back Shack. Local breeding enthusiasts may be interested to see PIONEER’S PADDY, the first foal out of DEW TELL, a daughter of Paddy O’Prado who was sold through the innovative CTHS Horses of Racing Age Sale in 2019.
IT’S taken a while, but PINEAPPLE TIDBITS has certainly recaptured her winning form of late and lines up here on a hat-trick. Her most recent victory was half-a-rung higher than this and she shouldn’t be too far away again tonight. That also applies to OSTRACIZE, who was second to “Tidbits” last time and who hasn’t finished outside the first three in six efforts stretching back over a year. Given her propensity for getting stuck in traffic, RICHARDS COMMAND has done exceptionally well to miss the board just twice in seven outings this season. She rallied well to win last time and should be a serious threat again.
BOTH When in Mexico and Quatre Bak take significant drops in class here and will be tough opposition for their rivals. WHEN IN MEXICO won his maiden convincingly in May and wasn’t beaten too far last time when fourth to Fraser Landing and co. A repeat of that standard would make him hard to handle at this level. QUATRE BAK, who has also been swimming in deeper waters than he encounters here, finished just ahead of When in Mexico two starts ago and was behind him earlier in the season. There’s probably not much between either. RICK’S DANCER returns to sprinting but seems equally adept going long or short and has been ultra-consistent of late.
THIS represents a drop down the ladder for DREAMB, who had ALOBRAH behind when going down by just a neck to the useful Hoax on her most recent effort back in May — although any class relief is somewhat neutralized by several other runners with the same idea. LICORICE also takes a step down but will again have to deal with fellow class-droppers, BAKBURNER, who wasn’t too far behind when they were fourth and fifth to Eddie’s Girl last month, and LOLA M, who was just a length behind Licorice when they chased home Wirly Girly in July. A repeat of that standard would make all three serious contenders here. MARYS TAPPIN SHOES steps back in distance after beating MERRY BLUE over the long course last time, while EBONY EYES had Licorice behind back in May and was last seen finishing a distant fourth in last month’s CTHS Sales Stakes. These look far more navigable waters.
THIS appears to be the perfect opportunity for DUKE GIRLS, who drops onto the bottom rung in a bid to get off the mark at the 14th attempt. She rattled off three second-place finishes in mid-summer, is probably best forgiven her effort in the slop last time and looks the one to beat. This may also be a little more comfortable for MAX BOOSTER, who has been knocking on the door against arguably tougher opponents than he encounters here and shouldn’t be too far away. THINKIN BACK should be a different proposition now he’s made his debut. He wouldn’t need to be a world-beater to make his presence felt in this company and has been working solidly enough in the mornings.
LUCKY COWBOY ran well enough after getting involved in a front-end duel with Ave’s in Command last time, weakening only as they turned into the homestretch, and he drops back to the level that has propelled him to four wins this term. KNOPFLER, who is seemingly contractually obligated to finish in the first three, hasn’t missed the board all season and shouldn’t be too far away again as long as he can avoid traffic issues. COBRA JET took a few races to get the hang of Hastings after arriving from Golden Gate. He went gate-to-wire last time and, although arguably favoured by the conditions of that contest and facing tougher “open” company again here, would be a serious threat if repeating that performance. Interestingly, leading rider Amadeo Perez stays loyal to ASKMENOQUESTIONS, who returns to sprinting after two moderate efforts over the long course. The pair were easy gate-to-wire winners over the same distance back in July and a repeat of that would put them close to the winner’s circle again.
Lisa & Mike’s Friday Night Picks
Statistics
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Friday, September 5
HBPA Election Notice
The HBPA BC President has asked Neil Stajkowski to head the Nominations Committee.
To date the following nominations have been received:
For President: David Milburn – incumbent (1 to be elected)
For Director – Owner: Gary Johnson, Denise Praill, Nigel Reid and Don Danard are incumbents, and, to date, Chris Ceraldi, Gail Jewsbury and Jordan Froelich will also be on the ballot. (5 to be elected)
For Director – Trainer: Steve Henson, Barb Heads, Mel Snow, Patty Leaney are incumbents, and to date, John Snow, Mark Freeman and Demetris Topouzis will also be on the ballot. (5 to be elected)
Please note that an individual that is both an owner and trainer can run in the election only as a trainer.
Election Timing
The Election be electronic over a two-week period beginning September 30. Election details and election registration and election registration details will be posted on our website or on the notice board by the East Gate at Hastings.
HBPA of BC Scholarship Program
