Just the Tonic!
Doubles for trainer Mel Snow and jockeys Amadeo Perez and Gabriel Morales among the highlights on a sun-soaked Monday afternoon at Hastings
HIGHLIGHTS
Gabriel Morales and Amadeo Perez had riding doubles.
Mel Snow had a pair of training victories.
The handle was $438,651.
The Pick 5 had a single winner returning $2,421 and the Pick 6 was also nailed for $3,463.
Hastings’ most loyal fans were rewarded with a perfect late-August afternoon of warm sunshine, a gentle breeze and acres of blue sky. The track was fast.
Hastings Race Reviews, August 29
Race 1.
The Monday opener saw the veteran nine year old COULTERBERRY ($3.90) rally from last to first under Amadeo Perez for the owner and breeder Roy and Dixie Jacobson to win in 1:17.82 for conditioner Mark Cloutier. Rob Thacker's AIRAFFAIR set comfortable splits of 23.04 and 46.61 and led the field into the stretch and raced gamely to the wire only to lose in a tough photo for Silvino Morales and trainer Demetris Topouzis. BFA Holdings WISE MARKET battled on the slow pace and stayed on well to be third.
Race 2
The second of the day went to Rob and Vicky Gilker's MAKIN IT UP ($4.50) who was away beautifully from the gates under Antonio Reyes which allowed her to get into a perfect spot through the early going sitting on a sensible pace (23.83, 48.48 and 1:14.25) then running away on the final turn and into the lane to win as much the best in 1:47.36 for trainer Rob Gilker. Fred and Sheldon Kwan's BAKZONE ran a much improved race on the class drop as she set the early tempo under Learie Seecharan for trainer Harold Barroby couldn’t quite stay with the winner but did well to hold second. Jim and Anne Alendal’s HARLAN'S ANGEL was bounced around leaving the gate costing her position early as she was forced to settle in behind the speed which is not in her comfort zone and she ran on in the stretch just missing the second spot ending up third.
CTHS Yearling & Mixed Sale Catalogue Update:
Hip #39 - Counterforce half-brother to MAKIN IT UP
Race 3.
The third of the afternoon was an exciting stretch duel and finding the line first was the D and E Racing’s LIZZIES GIRL ($4.50) under Amadeo Perez. The Tara Neigel trainee tried for the early lead but couldn't get it so Perez elected to sit behind the leaders then started to gain on the leader turning for home and just got up nearing the wire in 1:47.88. The Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds GROOVY GIRL ran too good to lose as she set the pace in company with BE LIKE ME through fractions of 24.02, 48.56 and 1:14.82 with Learie Seecharan in the irons they then built up a good sized lead on the turn only for be run down in deep stretch ending an impressive runner-up. The Pocket Aces Racing Stable's SILVER ARROW raced on the rail throughout and checked in third without menacing the top two.
Race 4.
The fourth race was another thriller as three of them came to the finish together and getting his nose down at the finish was Willow Creek Farms and Fabio Chiesa’s FRANKIE MACHINE ($7.10) who had a nice trip on the pace loping through fractions of 24.23, 48.16 then picked it up to get six furlongs in 1:12.77 took the lead into the stretch and was stubborn and refused to let anyone by and hit the line first in 1:46.56 with Scott Williams up for conditioner Steve Henson. The Last Call Racing Stable and Cathy Bornn’s JUST MAKE BELIEVE settled on the rail behind the early leaders wasn’t clear until the top of the lane then ran on to be a close second. The Willow Creek Farms MY COLLEGE FUND raced wide throughout most of the trip and ran by far his best race this year just missing by a head in the three way photo ending up an unlucky third.
Race 5.
The fifth race on the program went to the Sasquatch and Dreamtime Stable's AVE'S IN COMMAND ($28.20) who showed excellent gate speed and was put into a good spot on the outside of the speed under Jose Gomez and showed great courage to outrun his rivals to win in 1:18.74 for Bruce Unwin giving the veteran trainer his first win of the 2022 season. Lorie Henson, Helen Klimes and Sharon Pring's QUAGMIRE turned in another solid effort despite being put into an off-the-pace role today and he closed up smartly in deep stretch but ran out of racetrack as he was finishing best although he had to settle for second. Joe and Gloria Russo's LITTLE GROOT took his customary spot on the lead through easy fractions of 22.53 and 46.60 which made him far braver in the stretch and he ended up a close third in a good performance.
CTHS Yearling & Mixed Sale Catalogue Update:
Hip #37 - Sungold half-brother to AVE’S IN COMMAND
Race 6.
The sixth race of the day went to Sandra Corsan’s TEX TONIC ($9.90) who settled into a relaxed stride in fourth place with Gabriel Morales aboard through the early going then grinded out a victory inching to the front approaching the wire in 1:14.94 for trainer Mel Snow. The Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds and James Redekop's WELLSLEY was away well and charged off to the front to lead in slow splits of 23.60 and 48.13 led the field into the lane but was reeled in late and had to take home second money in an improved effort. JDP Holdings FORCE TO REKN WITH had an adventurous journey on the rail never getting clear and checking repeatedly in a number of spots and was best but unfortunately it wasn’t her day as she could only claim the third spot.
Race 7.
The seventh on the Monday card went to Roger and Mel Snow's HEART OF TEXAS ($16.10) who took the worst of it on the outside the entire trip in the small field of six but still managed to prove best under Gabriel Morales to win in 1:19 flat for trainer Mel Snow. The Willow Creek Farm's BAKFIRE BABY was put on the engine by Kimal Santo and set sensible fractions of 22.64 and a slow half-mile in 47.42 she stayed tough on the lead until sixteenth pole but gave in late and finished second. The Greenlaw Farm's LIVING SKY showed good speed away from the gate and chose to settle in the second spot early she then moved up on the final turn to challenge bug couldn’t match strides with the top two and checked in a good third.
Latest Standings
OWNERS:
Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds - 10
Rob and Sheena Maybin – 10
Willow Creek Farms - 8
TRAINERS:
Edgar Mendoza - 27
Barbara Heads - 26
Mark Cloutier - 21
JOCKEYS:
Amadeo Perez - 53
Antonio Reyes - 41
Efrain Hernandez - 26
Tuesday’s Runners, Riders and Race Previews
Racing resumes today Tuesday, August 30th. First race: 2:00 p.m.
