Hastings' Weekly Round-Up
Hastings' Weekly Round-Up
Easter Sunday Breakfast proved a big hit with some faces old and new in attendance; while the road to the Kentucky Derby may become a little clearer following this weekend's important races...
Formerly of this Parish…
MULTIPLE Stakes-winning handler Lorne Richards, who was a successful trainer at Hastings before moving his shingle to Woodbine at the turn of the century, popped by the East Van oval to say hello to friends old and new this week. Richards, who was warmly welcomed by everyone who knew him, has enjoyed a storied training career, saddling 1,880 runners to win 423 races and collect earnings of more than $12 million.
The Road to the Kentucky Derby
by Mike Heads
WITH the month of March in the rear-view mirror and only one more week of serious Derby preps remaining, the contenders are starting to sort themselves out as we approach the first Saturday in May.
The Arkansas Derby produced a brilliant Preakness contender in Zedan Racing Stables’ MUTH (Good Magic) as he broke the hearts of many Derby hopefuls, winning by a couple of comfortable lengths for conditioner Bob Baffert. His owner’s law-suit against Churchill Downs notwithstanding, MUTH seems certain to miss the Run for the Roses, so his sights will be set on Baltimore for the Preakness. The runner-up was the huge longshot JUST STEEL (Justify), who will give D. Wayne Lukas a Derby entrant for the fifth straight decade. MYSTIK DAN (Goldencents) had an eventful trip and could be forgiven for his no-threat third-place run, where he was travelling well at the end for trainer Ken McPeek, and seems likely continue on to Louisville. The Arkansas Derby favourite TIMBERLAKE (Into Mischief) was given every chance by Flavien Prat but ended up a listless fourth and it was announced earlier this week that he was taken out of consideration for the KY Derby by his trainer, Brad Cox.
The Florida Derby was a one-horse race that saw Mike Repole's FIERCENESS (City of Light) rebound with an eye-popping performance, winning geared down by 13½ lengths in 1:48.22 under John Velazquez for trainer Todd Pletcher. The main competition of HADES (Awesome Slew) and CONQUEST WARRIOR (City of Light) did not fire at all, which made the task of FIERCENESS much easier, allowing him to cruise to an easy score. The win may well see FIERCENESS start as the favourite to win the 150th Kentucky Derby, although I don’t think he will enjoy the same race scenario he got in the Florida Derby, making him a vulnerable one to play against.
This weekend:
The Kentucky Derby fun continues this Saturday with three significant prep races: the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland; the $750,000 Wood Memorial Presented by Resorts Word Casino (G2) at Aqueduct; and the Santa Anita Derby (G1).
The big clash of the weekend looks to be the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland, which sees DORNOCH (Good Magic), who last month made a triumphant return to the races in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream, up against SIERRA LEONE (Gun Runner), who won the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes impressively at the Fair Grounds in his last start. It will be tenth race on the card and is scheduled to go at 2:52 p.m.
“The Wood” should see the Christophe Clement-trained DETERMINISTIC (Liam’s Map) go off as the favourite under Joel Rosario after capturing the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes on his 2024 debut on just his second career start. His chief rival is another undefeated colt TUSCAN SKY (Vino Rosso), who has easily breezed through his conditions and has earned a first Stakes start. The Wood may lack the star power of the Toyota Blue Grass but should be a very interesting race. Start time is 1:07 p.m.
Way out west, meanwhile, the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby could well produce another impressive win from a Bob Baffert runner which will not be eligible to run in the Derby. Baffert saddles IMAGINATION (Into Mischief) and WYNSTOCK (Solomini). The former narrowly won the Grade 2 DK Horse San Felipe Stakes at 4-5 over stablemate WINE ME UP (Vino Rosso) at a mile and a sixteenth under Frankie Dettori. WYNSTOCK took the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in game style last December but failed miserably when shipped east to Oaklawn Park for February’s Grade 3 Southwest Stakes. This will be his first start in over two months and he will be ridden by Juan Hernandez. Phil D'Amato's STRONGHOLD (Ghostzapper) was second behind WYNSTOCK (in the Los Al Futurity) but rebounded smartly in his last start, easily winning the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby under Antonio Fresu, and is installed as the second choice in the morning line.
The road to Kentucky should become a lot less congested after this weekend’s races. Good luck, everyone!
DRF’s Toyota Blue Grass Stakes Preview
DRF’s Santa Anita Derby Preview
New Arrivals
WITH fewer and fewer horses bred in BC these days, new horses have to come from further afield and it’s interesting to note that, due in large part to HBPA/TOBA’s generous “Fresh Horse” incentive scheme, there’s been a lot more claiming activity over the winter.
We’ll try and keep everyone updated with new horses arriving at Hastings as we are made aware of them and first up is MISS ACCELERATE (Accellerate), who is pictured with her trainer, Mark Freeman.
It was very much a case of “if at first you don’t succeed” for Freeman, who lost out in a shake for the speedily-bred filly at the first attempt last July. Undeterred, he struck again when the four-year-old half-sister to Stakes-placed CITY DIVA (City Zip) reappeared at Emerald Downs for the same tag a month later. She’s one of a few claims made by Freeman during the off-season and he’s looking forward to seeing how she handles the unique demands of Hastings.
Freeman said: “We had our eye on her for a while and were delighted to get her at the second go. She’s settled in well and has already had a few pieces of work. We’re excited to see how she gets on.”
A graduate of the 2022 OBS June Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale in Florida, Miss Accelerate broke her maiden last May at Emerald Downs after moving there from Golden Gate. She certainly looks to be a consistent sort, having hit the board in nine of her 11 starts to date, and is a welcome recruit to the Hastings’ horse population.
Only a Few Tickets Left — Don’t Miss Out!
New Stride News
U.S. Trainers Set Sights on Early Woodbine’ Stakes
By: Jennifer Morrison | April 5, 2024
A few American trainers will once again have stalls at Woodbine this season and among those is SAFFIE JOSEPH JR., who won another title in Florida, this time the Gulfstream Park Championship meet. Joseph is familiar with racing horses at Woodbine and has about a dozen stalls there this year. Other trainers from the U.S. who will have horses at Woodbine with assistants of their own or local trainers include Jonathan Thomas and Kelsey Danner.
Joseph is pointing some of his star horses for stakes races at Woodbine this spring including Gentry Farms’ ACCOMPLISHED GIRL who won the Grade 2 Presque Isle Masters last September. Recently the filly has been racing on the turf, finishing a close second in the Suwannee River Stakes (G2) in December at Gulfstream.
After finishing eighth in the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2), Accomplished cut back sharply to five furlongs and was fifth in the the black-type Captiva Island. Joseph said to Horse Racing Nation, “We tried her long, and she ran … second and then she ran in the Pegasus Turf and then we cut her back the other day. We thought that’s her best distance. She ran uncharacteristically, just ran flat. So we’ll freshen her up and there’s a stake for her, a Grade 3 at Woodbine opening week.” That’s the Whimsical on May 4.
The Whimsical could also lure Gary Barber’s stakes-winning mare Miss Speedy, a recent winner at Gulfstream…
Easter Breakfast Proves a Hit
MANY thanks to everyone who came out to Hastings on Easter Sunday to support the first “Breakfast with the Horses” of the new year. Denise and Darlene (with the help from the rest of the family!) once again put on a mouth-watering selection of breakfast goodies and an impromptu “tailgate party” soon developed at the gap. More “Breakfast with the Horses” events are being planned for later in the season…
Exciting Changes to Wagering Profiles at Fraser Downs!
FRASER Downs is shaking things up a bit with an updated wagering profile.
Starting Thursday, April 4, it will be double the fun with two 15% Pick 4s on each program featuring nine or more races. The early Pick 4 kicks off in Race 2, while the late Pick 4 keeps the excitement going with the last four races on the program.
"We are thrilled with the support our racing has been receiving lately and we want to continue to help fuel that enthusiasm for BC racing," says Dawn Lupul, Manager of Racing and Communications. "The 15% Pick 4 has been the preferred exotic pool by our customers, and introducing the early one based on their feedback should be another strong addition."
The timing of the early Pick 4 provides an opportunity for customers playing tracks like Woodbine Harness and Meadowlands to get in on the action as those eastern tracks finish for the day.
With these changes, the current Pick 5 will be closing out with a bang on April 4, featuring a mandatory payout and a carryover of $2035 going into the card. Beginning April 5, the track is adding another 15% $1 Pick 3, to take the spot of the Pick 5 in Race 4.
Racing continues every Thursday and Friday at 7 pm PDT / 10 pm EDT. For more information, head over to the Player Portal at BCRacebook.com.
Elephant Warriors
AN important wildlife conservation documentary, created by two good friends of Hastings, receives its premiere later this month here in Vancouver. Produced, written and directed by Roberta Staley, with co-direction, videography and photography by Tallulah, ELEPHANT WARRIORS has already been selected for several prestigeous documantary festivals, including the “Nature Without Borders International Film Festival”. Formerly a Hastings’ Racing Club member, Roberta Staley has become a syndicate member over the past couple of years and is a raceday regular throughout the season. Tallulah, meanwhile, along with her ever-present cameras, has been documenting the backstretch life at Hastings sporadically over the past few years and is a “go-to” source when the Newsletter requires help with anything photography related. The documatary will be screened on April 16 at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre, 950 West 41st Avenue. There are still a few tickets remaining and both Roberta and Tallulah would love to see as many familar Hastings’ faces there as possible.
