After a two year absence due to COVID-19 restrictions Hastings Racecourse was greeted with a full grandstand of guests that witnessed a very good eight race program on an unexpected sunny afternoon. There was excitement, loud cheers and electricity in the building which was something that was not seen or heard since the last full season of racing in 2019.
There was one significant missing piece to a successful opening day and that was the presence of Glen Todd who passed away suddenly on March 27th at the young age of 75. He had been the leader of the this industry through some very tough times and kept everything going even if it meant dipping into his own pockets to ensure racing was at the best level possible for owners and fans. There is no one to replace him in the capacity that he provided for the industry and he was honoured with a moment of silence prior to the running of the first race.
The first of eight races saw Rob Moretto and the Hawaiian Shirt Guys’ FLYUNDERTHEGRAYDAR ($3.80) reward his many supporters by leading the field through comfortable nearly splits of 23.31 and 47.05 and then started to draw clear on the final bend and held his rivals safe to finish a length and a half to the good in a respectable six furlong time of 1:13.39 for trainer Dino Condilenios. George Gilbert’s HARVEST DAY chased the winner around the track and couldn’t quite match strides and had to settle for second. The G.O. Stables AIRAFFAIR was always in a good striking position and was making up ground Kate but ran out of racetrack and checked in a close third.
The second event of the day featured a talented group of fillies and mares and taking home the top prize was Roxanne’s Racing Stable and Milton Palma’s MI REYNA ($9.20) who was brilliantly handled by Amadeo Perez sitting just off of the pace and then seemed outrun on the final turn while in between fillies but Amadeo guided the daughter of Bakken off of the rail into the clear and she came with a furious dash nearing the line to get the victory in 1:12.69. Peter Redekop’s ANOTHERSUNNYDAY after breaking outward was off to the lead and carved out all of the early fractions 23.25, 46.64 and seemed a winner in the stretch but was just caught late. The Tod Mountain Thoroughbred’s KICK UP THE DUST was in a good position early and made a strong three wide move on the stretch turn and ended a tough luck third beaten only three-quarters of a length for win.
The third race as expected went to the heavily favoured BELCARRA PARK ($2.10) who was the easiest of winners on the day cruising through soft interior fractions (23.67, 47.18) and built her lead to six lengths at the wire while being geared down by rider Amadeo Perez for owner George Gilbert and trainer Mark Cloutier In 1:12.87. The battle for second was far more exciting as Rob and Sheena Maybin’s newcomer MISS THE HYPE who was purchased out of Woodbine last winter rallied from in-between horses to get the runner-up spot just ahead of the Minnaloushe Stables and Dave Milburn’s CATTITUDE who battled gamely from the inside and claimed third money.
The fourth of the day went to the Tod Mountain Thoroughbred’s KANDY KATIE ($4.80) who broke well and sat a perfect trip off of a sensible early tempo (23.55, 46.86) that was being set by Willow Creek Farm’s JERSEY LILLIE and the homebred daughter of Twirling Candy under Antonio Reyes she started to inch away in the stretch to win by a length in quick 1:12.13 for trainer Edgar Mendoza. The winning connections completed the $49 Exactor as WANDALITA rallied up the inside to just get up for second ahead the pace setting JERSEY LILLIE who ended up a close third beaten by only a length.
Race number five was reduced to a field of five after three late scratches at the gate and taking full advantage was Kim Peacock and Lance Giesbrecht’s REGAL RIOT ($3.20) who survived all of the gateantics and broke sharply seized control and battled head and head through fractions of 23.39, 47.47 before starting to sneak away in the final quarter-mile and was eased under the wire winning by seven and half lengths in 1:13.32 for veteran conditioner Robbie Anderson and also gave Antonio Reyes his second win on the day. Warren Wilson, June Sutherland, Neil Stajkowski, Barry Hickman and Lesley Small’s WISELY PLAYED came out of the pack on the inside the get the second spot and the Foundation Stable’s GREYTOGO battled on well to be third.
The sixth of the afternoon went the classy old timer BLUEGRASS ANGUS ($9.50) who just found the finish line in time to get his 13th career win from just 38 starts. The Craig MacPherson trainee was away in good order and settled in company on the lead through slow splits of 24.11 and 47.32 under rider Efrain Hernandez then started to draw away into the lane but was all out at the finish to just barely eke out the win by a diminishing head in the fastest time of the day 1:11.81. Joe and Gloria Russo’s FORT LANGLEY raced wide throughout and was flying in the stretch but just fell a little short. The D&E Racing’s BILLS SMOKN BULLET was sent off to the lead from the gate and stayed on even terms through the first half-mile but started to lose ground on the stretch turn and really did well to stay on for third.
The seventh event was a solid allowance event that saw a three way speed duel materialize which played out perfectly for George Gilbert’s SMART LAD ($17.50) who sat a nice relaxed trip in fourth place early under Jose Gomez who patiently watched the duel and then swept four wide and had enough left in the stretch to win by a half-length in 1:12.42 giving trainer Mark Cloutier and owner George Gilbert doubles in the day. The Nite and Day Stable and Joanne Todd’s HE’S RELENTLESS also took advantage of a quick early and contested pace and was strong in the late going and looked good running second. Len Houweling, Doug Corsan and Mel Snow’s SLEW’S DA BOSS suffered from a wide trip and did well to rally to be third.
The last of the day went to Roger and Mel Snow’s HEART OF TEXAS ($15.00) who attended the early pace three wide through comfortable fractions of 23.79 and 47.53 she continued three wide and made the lead heading into the lane and continued to battle on for a one length victory in 1:13.36 under Gabriel Morales giving him his first win at Hastings. Dave and Sylvea Gregory’s COUNTESS CAT was on the lead under apprentice James Chau covering the opening half-mile in 47.53 she continued to battle on but had to settle for second at odds of 15-1. The Side Pot Stable’s WALKINTHEWALK was locked in behind rivals on the final turn and was likely best with a clear run but had to settle for an unlucky third.
Opening Day Highlights :
The handle was $614,146
Efrain Hernandez, Amadeo Perez and Antonio Reyes had riding doubles
Mark Cloutier had a training double
The Kentucky Derby was a shocker won by a horse RICH STRIKE ($163.80) that was claimed for $30,000 last fall and only drew into the body of the race on Saturday morning after Ethereal Road was scratched. You can’t make this stuff up which is why horse racing is an amazing game. I hope you all enjoyed the show today
Racing resumes at Hastings Racecourse next Saturday May 14th with the first race going at 2:00 p.m
Kentucky Derby Upset
The Kentucky Derby was a shocker won by a horse RICH STRIKE ($163.80) that was claimed for $30,000 last fall and only drew into the body of the race on Saturday morning after Ethereal Road was scratched. You can’t make this stuff up which is why horse racing is an amazing game. I hope you all enjoyed the show today.
Below is the replay in case you missed the race.
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