Hat-Trick for VanOverschot
Explode wins at Century Mile to cap a memorable day for Hastings' trainer, as former Canadian Derby winner is then claimed. Stopshoppingshelley lands the 2yo feature for Demetris Topouzis
Ominous dark clouds returned to Hastings on Saturday although, a half-hearted spit apart, it remained dry. The skies cleared as the afternoon progressed and the track was fast.
HIGHLIGHTS :
Scott Williams had a riding double.
Rob VanOverschot had two Hastings’ training victories.
The Ironside Stables had two visits to the Hastings’ winner’s circle.
The Pick 5 carryover rose to $53,290 and the Pick 6 in its first day back after being aimed is at $807.
The handle was $555,623.
Saturday’s Racing Review
Race 1.
The first of the day went to the Ironside Stables PRETTY ARIA ($6.00) who held in reserve by Amadeo Perez on he inside behind a slow early tempo and when shifted off the rail she came with good energy and sprinted home to an impressive score in 1:17.19 for trainer Rob VanOverschot. The Hastings Horsepower and Minnaloushe Stables LASTING LIGHT was equally impressive today as she was also rated off of the speed and sat a nice second through splits 23.11 and 46.59 and built up a big lead on the final turn but couldn’t hold off the surging PRETTY ARIA but was a clear runner-up. Denny Spence’s THE KAT'S BACK wasn’t done any favors by the slow early fractions and saw her three race winning streak end as she checked a good third.
Race 2.
The second was an exciting finish and coming from last to first was Larry Potozny's OUREVELADY ($8.40) who got up in the closing strides to win in 1:46.13 for trainer Barbara Heads. The WYN Racing Stables VON DOM ran another huge race carving out the early fractions with BFA Holdings WISE MARKET of 24.10, 47.84 and 1:13.04 then had to deal ACE DUECE at the quarter pole he shrugged those two opponents off in the stretch but couldn’t quite find the line first losing by a head at the wire. Jim Strachan's DEBATABLE rallied up the rail to claim third money.
Race 3.
The Ironside Stables RING OF KERRY ($8.60) was given another picture perfect ride by Kerron Khelawan as he sat behind the speed on the rail saving every inch of ground until the stretch when he edged off of the fence and ran on best to the line in 1:17.70 giving Rob VanOverschot and the Ironside Stables a double on the day. The Sasquatch and Dreamtime Stables AVE'S IN COMMAND set all of the early fractions under Jose Gomez (22.84, 46.67) and led field turning for home and ran gamely to the finish to be second for trainer Bruce Unwin. Derek Harris and Pat Marini's ADITYA raced wide throughout and made a menacing move on the final turn but couldn’t sustain his bid and finished third.
Claims:
Ring of Kerry was claimed by Hammer Racing Stables and trainer Robert Henson
Race 4.
The fourth of the afternoon went to the MJD Stables STOPSHOPPINGSHELLY ($14.60) who rallied from well off the pace and finished full of run to win in 1:14.10 under Learie Seecharan for trainer Demetris Topouzis . Jerry Billan's TIME TICKER showed a lot of promise in his debut as he raced three wide the entire trip and took the lead into the stretch but was outsprinted to the wire and ended up a solid second under Scott Williams. The Swift Thoroughbreds BUNNY went off choice as the betting choice and showed speed from her inside gate then ducked in at three-sixteenths pole after spooking from something and lost her action and she showed tremendous ability to regather her thoughts and was gaining on the top two finishers as they approached the wire.
Race 5.
The fifth race was easily taken down by the Willow Creek Farms and Fabio Chiesa’s FRANKIE MACHINE ($18.80) who turned in a dominating performance tracking the speedy MCMURPHY through fractions of 24.64, 48.50 and 1:12.88 easily put that rival away and drew away to win in a sharp 1:44.46 under Scott Williams for trainer Steve Henson. Jordan Froelich's MR. QUALITY spent the entire trip on the rail behind the speed and ran another good one and ran on well in the stretch to secure second money. Russ and Lois Bennett's JUST MAKE BELIEVE settled into his usual wide position early and looked to be a danger on the turn but had to settle for the third place cheque.
Claims:
Just Make Believe was claimed by Last Call Racing and Cathy Bornn. The new trainer is Brent Bremner.
Race 6.
The sixth race on the card went to the Blue Willow Dairy owned DAPHNE ($6.90) who broke on top then settled off of the speedy ALOBRAH through sensible splits of 22.44 and 46.33 and when asked on the stretch turn she responded with a good turn of foot to win comfortably in 1:17.95 for Hall-of-Fame trainer Dave Forster. Bryan and Carol Anderson's AMANDA turned in another big effort closing from well back off the pace and was briefly held up on the stretch turn behind runners and did well to get second money. Gary Johnson's ALOBRAH galloped up to the lead after missing the start showed good courage until the sixteenth pole where she got a little tired but was impressive in saving third money in her first start since last October.
Race 7.
The last of the day went to Dave and Sylvea Gregory's SUNGOLD BEAUTY ($38.50) who had a perfect trip laying in third behind a quick and contested pace duel then Efrain Hernandez shook the lines at her at the quarter-pole and she delivered a decisive kick and just ran by a very stubborn KOALA to win in 1:18.56. The G.O. Stables KOALA ran too good to lose as she was embroiled in a head and head duel through fractions of 22.34 and 46.47 won that battle and grudgingly gave way late in an impressive runner-up performance. Willow Creek Farms and Fabio Chiesa’s DON’T TESS ME made him good ground late on the inside and earned third money.
Explode Clinches Three-Timer for VanOverschot
Hastings handler Rob VanOverschot completed a cross-card three-timer on Saturday when Ironside Stables’ former Canadian Derby winner EXPLODE landed an Allowance Optional Claiming contest over six furlongs at Century Mile. Explode’s win added to the trainer’s double at Hastings with Pretty Aria and Ring of Kerry. The six-year-old Trappe Shot gelding rallied late to take down the $31k contest by a head. Explode was then claimed after the race by Shot In The Dark Racing Corp and Beckham Ranch. The new trainer is Tim Rycroft.
Good Excuse For a Hat!
Don’t Forget, Next Saturday’s ‘Cup’ Day is an All Ticket Affair
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