Friday Night Previews

The race for leading rider continues to heat up, with both Antonio Reyes and Kerron Khelawan in striking distance of current leader Amadeo Perez. All three are back in action on Friday night

Jul 25, 2024

**GO LENT GO** (Kerron Khelawan) — photo Michael Bye

E Z TONIGHT steps up in class after breaking her maiden comfortably last time on just her fourth start. This will obviously be tougher, but she scooted clear late and put daylight between her and Chabi in that effort and wouldn’t need to improve too much more to play a central role. DRILL BABY DRILL tried to make all the running last time but was allowed no peace on the front end by tonight’s rival, BC CHRISTIE. Even so, despite having no answer to the late move of Perfect Penny, she still managed to rally into second place and, having missed the board just once in five starts this term, should go close again.

LOLA M drops marginally in class here after being outpointed by Hoax last time out. She had the useful Neighneigh behind her that day and this looks like a more manageable task. She’s the one they’ll have to beat. WIRLY GIRLY was a comfortable winner on her Hastings debut after being brought up from California over the spring. A repeat of that effort would put her in the mix, but this represents two steps up the class ladder and will be a far tougher challenge. BC CHU CHU also dips a hoof into deeper waters after landing her maiden last month, while ALOBRAH has been getting closer with each of her runs this term and a repeat of either of her two most recent outings would make her a major player.

GO LENT GO relished the step up to a mile-and-a-sixteenth when notching his maiden victory earlier this month. He’ll need to improve again to land this but he was pulling away at the wire and, now he’s got some real estate to run into again, looks like he might represent some value at the betting windows. CURLIN ROCKS disappointed a little and was already beaten when steadied on the home turn last time. However, he was impressive in his previous two outings, faces nothing of the calibre of Counteract or Nine One One here and runs as though the step up in distance will suit him. DEAL EM makes his first start for new connections after a promising fourth on his Hastings debut back in May. He wasn’t outclassed by the likes of Wealthy Texan and August Rain that day and runs as though he’s crying out for a distance of ground. Tonight he gets it.

CHABI had STILETTOS ONLY behind when second to E Z Tonight last time and a repeat of that, minus the traffic issues, would probably be good enough to give the five-year-old mare her first career win in what looks to be a moderate affair. FOREVER SUMMER drops onto the bottom rung after being well beaten on her three outings this term and should find the company far more appealing here, while NUMAANY’S CANDY made up plenty of ground late in Chabi’s race on her first career start and wouldn’t need to improve much on that to play a hand in the finish. First-time starter RICHIE’S DREAM is a half-sister to a couple of winners, including Hastings’ winner, Military Cross.

A fascinating re-match between SAILINGFORTHESTARS and WEEKENDINDELMAR who filled the minor placings behind the smart Sunblaze last time. There was just a half-length between them, with Weekendindelmar closing in but unable to get to the pugnacious Sailingforthestars, who made a lot of the running and gutted it out right to the wire. Whatever beats them here will know they’ve been in a race. FEBRUARY looked a smart prospect when second to champion juvenile Lizzie’s Rayne on her only start last season and this marks her belated reappearance. She’s entitled to need the outing but has been working solidly and the barn is in great form at the moment.

GREYTOGO has been out for over a year but was last seen finishing third to Back Shack and Klimtoglory in a contest some way tougher than this appears to be. The last time he was near this level was when breaking his maiden with an $8,000 tag two years ago. He’s entitled to need the outing but he’s been working solidly enough and, if his trainer has him even close to match fitness, he’s the one they’ll have to beat. However, STANFORD NORTH has been knocking on the winner’s circle entrance all season and there would not be a more deserving winner after four seconds and a third-place finish this term. BARBERRY BANDIT was closing in late on Divaany and Stanford North last time. He’s a a consistent sort and should be right in the mix again in what is a typically competitive finale.