Glorious Canada Day
Sun-kissed Hastings hosted a bumper crowd of race fans to mark a magnificent Canada Day afternoon of Stakes action
Highlights
Jockeys Brian Boodramsingh, Silvino Morales and Amadeo Perez all bagged doubles
Trainer Mel Snow had two victories
The Super Hi-5 carried over to tomorrow at $2,052
The handle was $553,159
Six of the seven races, including both Stakes contests, went to horses bred here in British Columbia
A glorious Canada Day with barely a cloud and a perfect afternoon for racegoers to celebrate the federation of our great country … and have a flutter on the ponies! Saturday was also Groom Appreciations Day, hosted as usual by trainer Barbara Anderson-Heads, with a groom from each race the lucky recipient of $50 cash, a Tim Horton’s gift card and a smart ball cap.
Race 1.
The first on the Canada Day program went to Brian Albertson and the Estate of Dennis Tucker's INDYETTA ($4.40), who rattled off her third consecutive victory under Amadeo Perez, leading throughout to win in a quick 1:17.02 for trainer Cindy Krasner. WYN Racing Stables’ TAM TRICKY sat a nice trip on the shoulder of the winner early as they raced together through splits of 22.57 and 46.11. She started to lose ground approaching the stretch but held well to be a clear runner-up. BFA Holdings’ CARLA’S HONOR ran well, checking in third in her Hastings debut after racing just three weeks ago at Woodbine.
Race 2.
The second was won by Roger Snow, Don Danard and Conrad Rozenek's BOITANO ($8.30), who was relaxed beautifully by Brian Boodramsingh in behind the speed before he summoned him nearing the quarter pole. The son of Nyquist put then in a sharp late move to get up to win in 1:43.39 for trainer Mel Snow. The ReinDance Farm's BAKKEN OVERDRIVE had to overcome a shoe repair in the paddock which delayed the race by 10 minutes. He ran remarkably well in the circumstances, carving out fractions of 23.31, 46.08 and 1:11.01 under Kimal Santo, stayed game to the wire to be a close second for conditioner Cindy Krasner. Warren Wilson, June Sutherland, Neil Stajkowski, Barry Hickman and Lesley Small's WISELY PLAYED made a big run from last to claim the third spot under Amadeo Perez for trainer Charlene Miller.
Race 3.
The third race was won impressively by the Nite and Day Stable, Joanne Todd and S D Stables’ LOLA M ($5.30). She led the field on a merry chase (24.41, 48.60 and 1:13.20) under Silvino Morales and stopped the teletimer in 1:45.41 for trainer Brian O'Connell. Rob and Sheena Maybin's MISS THE HYPE catapulted out of her outside gate to join the leaders early and stayed strong to the stretch but couldn’t quite stay with the winner. Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds’ QUALITY COMMAND was content to sit in the pocket behind the speed and virtually stayed there the entire trip, finishing third.
Race 4.
The fourth went to Canyon Farm's ROAD CLOSURE ($4.00), who was once again a step slow early but was held back behind the speed before making a big rush on the backstretch with Silvino Morales. The duo snuck through an opening on the rail and never looked back, winning in 1:17.86 for trainer Craig MacPherson. Warren Wilson, Neil Stajkowski, June Sutherland, Ross Switzer and Barry Hickman's BRIAN'S DE LEIGHT was away from the latch best and secured the rail and the lead through splits of 22.14, 46.50. Hetried to battle back but had to settle for second. Rob Scott, William Long and Dan McLeod's HE'S A SAINT chased the a hot first fraction before relaxing in second. He started to lose ground on the final bend but hung on for third.
Race 5.
The fifth was the $50,000 Monashee for fillies and mares going a mile and a sixteenth and taking home the top prize was the Willow Creek Farms’ WE B THREE ($3.80) who, surprisingly, was able to lead the field, setting comfortable tempo of 24.04, 47.97 and six furlongs 1:12.80 under Amadeo Perez. They had enough left in the tank to win in 1:44.10 for trainer Steve Henson. Larry Potozny, Maria Godart, George and Donna Gilbert’s RUN LOLA RUN turned in a big effort in her first start long this year, tracking the speed under Ridge Balgobin to make things interesting on the final turn. Russ and Lois Bennett's SOLARITY was impeded early, costing her valuable position, and she did very well to rescue third money after being forced to be last early.
Race 6.
The sixth event was the $50,000 Lieutenant Governors for older horses going a mile and a sixteenth and the winner was Dave and Sylvea Gregory's SOARINGFORTHESUN ($20.90), who was able to set a leisurely tempo (24.20, 48,.16 and 1:12.73) under Kimal Santo before sprinting to the wire to win in 1:43.24 for trainer Edgar Mendoza. Dennis Dale, Tabitha Perry, Sheryle Benson, Kelly and Cathy Rycroft's BIG UNION was content to settle just off of the slow pace out in the three path and ran on to be second. Peter Redekop's AROLLERCOASTERRIDE was stuck in behind the speed and got out too late and was running well at the end.
Race 7.
The seventh race went to the Mel and Fran Snow's EDDIE WHO ($9.20) in gate-to-wire fashion. He was always travelling well under Brian Boodramsingh, breezing through splits of 22.12 and 45.99, and was resolute in the stretch, winning in the clear in 1:17.78. Canmor Farms and Bud Malette's ACCORDINGLY closed up nicely late to be in a dead heat for second with Pat Jarvis and Nigel Reid’s SHARPZAN, who suffered from a wide trip, doing well to finish on even terms for the runner-up spot under Kerron Khelawan.
Bloodhorse Headlines — Saturday July 1
Racing resumes today at 2:00 p.m. with two stakes races as part of another excellent seven race program at Hastings Racecourse.
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