Hernandez Takes Both Stakes
Jockey Efrain Hernandez enjoyed a memorable afternoon, winning both $50k feature races, while trainer Edgar Mendoza saddled a three-timer
HIGHLIGHTS :
Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds had two wins on the day.
Edgar Mendoza had a training triple.
Rider Efrain Hernandez captured both stakes races.
Amadeo Perez had a riding double.
The handle came in at $416,110.
The Pick 5 carryover is at $18,394 and the Pick 6 is $10,625 heading into Sunday.
There was a good-sized crowd of revellers and plenty of exciting racing on what turned into a warm afternoon. The forecast rain thankfully failed to materialize and track conditions were fast.
Race 1.
The Saturday opener went to Demetris Topouzis’ KOALA ($2.60) who just found the finish line first by a desperate nose under Silvino Morales. The daughter of Tapiture broke alertly and set an ambitious pace (22.72, 45.72) built up a big lead on the final turn but was extremely tired approaching the wire and just lasted in 1:18.46. George Gilbert's SOUTHERN LASS settled off of her speedy rival was travelling well on the backside and put in a solid run to the finish and just missed under Amadeo Perez for trainer Mark Cloutier . Taylur Veloz Group, Todd Foster, the Dreamtime Stable and Bruce Unwin’s KEEPINGTHEDREAM turned in a good effort in his 2022 debut finishing third.
Race 2.
The second race lost the morning line favourite KANDY KATIE when she was scratched in the paddock, so the field was reduced to four. Taking home top honours was KANDY KATIE’S stablemate WANDALITA ($3.90), who crushed the field after setting easy splits (23.64, 47.37) under Amadeo Perez for owners Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds and trainer Edgar Mendoza in 1:17.59. Rob and Sheena Maybin's OSTRACIZE ran another big race and was closing strongly at the end but the fractions were too easy for the winner and she had to settle for second. Russ and Lois Bennett's SUNBRIGHT was away slowly and rushed up to challenge the pace but could not stay with the top two and ran third.
Race 3.
The third of the afternoon saw lots of early speed and which played out perfectly for Warren Wilson, Neil Stajkowski, June Sutherland, Ross Switzer and Barry Hickman's PAY MY WAY ($16.80), who was held in reserve early and then put in a quick late burst to win the money in 1:17.96. The Canyon Farm's BAKLANE changed her usual strategy of showing early speed and was wrestled back early then produced a nice run when it counted in the final quarter-mile but was just caught late and ended up second. Don Danard's FINDING WAYS was pestered the entire pace on the head end through a quick opening half-mile in 45.48 and he continued to battle gamely but suffered from his early battle and finished up a close third.
Race 4.
The fourth of the day was the $50,000 River Rock Casino stake for three year old fillies and taking full advantage of a ballistic pace was the Sapphire Stables SHAMRA ($21.30) who broke on top but was reined in passed the stands to settle in last place under Efrain Hernandez through an opening quarter in 21.88 and watched from afar a contested half mile of 44.56 then on stretch turn started to make up ground on the pace setters that were starting to slow down and reeled them in at the sixteenth pole to secure the victory in 1:17.48 for trainer Edgar Mendoza. John Anderson’s U DID IT lost nothing in defeat as she was given an almost insurmountable task racing through the demanding fractions and was impressive in defeat running gamely to the wire to be a close second. Conrad Rozenek’s MARYS TAPPIN SHOES was another that was far back early and managed to rally late to finish third.
Race 5.
The fifth was a popular win for the Hastings Racing Club's RACINO ($7.20) who settled nicely in the second spot off of the early speed then continued to grind along through final stages to just get up in the closing strides to the win under a crafty ride by Scott Williams for trainer Pat Jarvis in 1:18.67. Jordan Froelich's VALERIE VALESKI set all of the early fractions (23.17, 46.75) and led the field into the stretch fighting hard but just got nailed approaching the wire and finished second. Don Musgrove and Lyle Johnson's PINEAPPLE TIDBITS was far back early again and managed to get through on the rail on the final bend and was flying late but the wire came too soon and she was third.
Race 6.
The sixth race of the day was the $50,000 Ross McLeod stakes for three year old colts and geldings and running a career best was Kim Peacock and Lance Giesbrecht's REGAL RIOT ($19.10) who broke well but opted to give up the lead early and tuck in behind the pacesetters who were setting easy fractions of 23.82 and 46.96 and when Efrain Hernandez asked the Rob Anderson trainee to pick up the tempo on the final bend he responded with a sharp turn of foot to collar SOARINGFORTHESUN at the sixteenth pole and outrun his rival to the wire in 1:17.23. Dave and Sylvea Gregory's SOARINGFORTHESUN ran another big race setting a moderate pace but was outsprinted to the line and finished a game runner-up. Gord Christoff’s GUNFIGHTER was very impressive in his Hastings debut closing up smartly despite the pedestrian pace that was being set by the leaders and was traveling best at the end for trainer John Snow. He will be a force when the three year olds stretch out in distance.
Race 7.
The last of the day saw a dominating performance by the Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds favoured runner KAY'S KITCHEN ($5.10) who easily bested her maiden rivals winning by a little more than eight lengths in a swift final time of 1:17.67 giving trainer Edgar Mendoza a training triple and rider Amadeo Perez his second of the day. Stable mate QUALITY COMMAND was setting the pace alongside KAY’S KITCHEN (22.40, 46.49) and was outrun on the final turn and did well to save second. Richard Hamel and Charlene Miller's C R SUNRISE lacked a good position due to her outside post and overcame a wide journey to get the third spot.
Belmont Stakes Day
The Belmont Stakes went to MO DONEGAL in impressive style to give trainer Todd Pletcher his fourth win in the final leg of the Triple Crown. However, the 1 ½-mile Classic was arguably upstaged by the two supporting Grade 1 events. The unbeaten FLIGHTLINE overcame trouble in running to land the Met Mile by six lengths, while JACK CHRISTOPHER (video) slaughtered his rivals in cold blood, displaying an electrifying burst down the stretch to win, geared down, by 10 lengths in the Woody Stephens. You can see the Belmont by clicking the link below — NR.
And finally…
Hastings is the perfect spot to send your bro’ off to tie the knot, as we’re sure this gang of characters would confirm. They were in high spirits, bidding a fond farewell to their friend Jacob’s bachelorhood. Jacob (tan chinos) is set to marry Katie in the coming weeks. Our sincerest best wishes go to them both and, hey, great shirts, guys!
Racing resumes Sunday with a seven-race program. First race: 2:00 p.m.