MacPherson Brings the Heat
WE B THREE lands the feature race of the day for trainer Steve Henson and Willow Creek Farms, while Craig MacPherson saddles a three-timer on an unseasonably warm afternoon at Hastings
HIGHLIGHTS:
Trainer Craig MacPherson saddles three winners
Handler Steve Henson notches a double
Silvino Morales piloted two winners
The handle came in at $414,878
Six of the day’s seven winners were bred in BC
An unseasonably hot day brought clear skies and July-like temperatures to Hastings on Saturday. The ice cream man did a roaring trade and the track was understandably fast all afternoon.
Race 1.
Saturday’s opener went to Helen Klimes, Jo-anne McDonald and Sharon Pring's THERE GOES MY HERO ($23.40), who rode the rails to victory under Silvino Morales for trainer Steve Henson . The son of Storm Victory was always well placed and out-gamed DEANARROW to win an exciting stretch duel in 1:19.92. Triple 8 Racing Stables’ DEANARROW ran a huge one in his first start of the season for conditioner John Snow, battling near the pace (22.52, 46.65) with apprentice Fraser Aebly in the irons and lost by the bob of a nose at the wire. Harold and Sandra Barroby's BECKA'S BOY was well back early but made a big move from off the pace to easily check into the third spot.
Race 2.
The second of the afternoon was a runaway performance by Don Tetaranko's SILK STILETTOS ($4.30), who broke on top assumed command and travelled through a comfortable tempo of 23.04, 46.83 under rider Scott Williams before sprinting clear at the quarter pole to win by many in a sharp 1:17.63 for trainer Craig MacPherson. Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds’ MISS THE HYPE was in a good striking position early but couldn’t stay with the winner and did well to hold the runner-up spot. The Dreamtime Stable’s COCORITA was three wide through much of the trip and ran on well to be third in her first start at Hastings after campaigning in Phoenix earlier this year.
Race 3.
The third event on the program was easily won by the Sapphire Stables and Ted Feenstra's SHAMRA ($8.70), who broke on top under Brian Boodramsingh, but was checked going into the first turn, forcing her to sit third behind a pace duel. Fortunately, all the early trouble couldn’t stop her as she breezed by the pacesetters and ran away to a big score for trainer Jim Loseth in 1:11.77. There was a dead-heat for her second spot as Bryan and Carol Anderson's AMANDA, who was held in reserve early and rallied late, and the Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds’ KAY’S KITCHEN, who prompted the early pace ( 23,33, 46.56), hit the line together.
Race 4.
The fourth of the day featured another blowout as Ed Claggett's LUCKY FORCE ($9.50) showed no ill effects from setting lively fractions of 23.22 and 46.36 to sprint off to win in 1:11.26 under Ridge Balgobin for trainer Craig MacPherson. The WYN Racing Stables’ FILLY FATALE, who was a little wide into the first turn, settled nicely down the backside and put in a good final quarter mile to get second place. The Shamrock Racing Stables’ SILARONE was a little fractious in the gate and was off last. But, when asked by Silvino Morales, she split horses and came with a rush to be third.
Race 5 - The Brighouse Belles Allowance
The fifth on the afternoon was an allowance race for the top older mares at Hastings and taking home top honours was the Willow Creek Farms’ WE B THREE, who was content to settle far back off the blistering pace (21.81, 45.52) set by George Gilbert's BELCARRA PARK before Amadeo Perez got WE B THREE rolling on the stretch turn and edged by the leaders to score in 1:17.04 for trainer Steve Henson, giving him his second on the day. Russ and Lois Bennett's SOLARITY sat a nice trip on the inside behind the speed, took the lead turning for home but couldn't hold off the oncoming WE B THREE. George and Donna Gilbert, Larry Potozny and Maria Godart’s RUN LOLA RUN raced on the outside for much of the trip and ran on to be third.
Race 6.
The sixth race was won by Ed Claggett, Foster Armstrong and trainer Craig MacPherson’s JUST MISTY ($9.00), who spotted the field six or seven lengths at the break but still galloped up to be near the lead into the first turn before swamping the leader approaching the far turn to draw clear for a big win in 1:19.94, giving Craig MacPherson his third training win on the day and rider Silvino Morales a second visit to the winner’s circle. Don Danard and Mel Snow's DRILL BABY DRILL settled in behind the speed and made a run on the stretch turn to gain the second spot. Riley Noble's BETTER WITH TIME was alert away from the latch and led the field through fractions of 23.21 and 47.48. The filly tried to battle with the eventual winner on the final bend but had to settle for a much improved third place effort.
Race 7.
The last race of the hot afternoon went to Randy Lane and Roy Nelson's ISLAND LIVING ($9.40), who was situated in second early under Kerron Khelawan before slowly creeping up and nearing the far turn and collaring the leader to win the fight to the wire in 1:13.91 for trainer Keith Pedersen. Roy and Dixie Jacobson’s LILSISTERLEE catapulted out of her wide draw and easily cleared the field to set slow splits of 24.41 and 48.64. She led the field of maidens into the stretch but had to settle for second. Harry Houlden and Ashley Martin's SHESBOURBONONICE was given every chance by Fraser Aebly who allowed her to settle a couple of lengths off of the speed and then tipped out three wide to challenge. She ran on well at the end to be third.
BC-bred winners
Six of the seven winners at Hastings on Saturday were bred right here in British Columbia, while MI REYNA (Bakken), BURNLEY (Bakken) and FLORAL (Bakken) all flew the BC breeders’ flag at Century Mile on Friday and Saturday.
Racing resumes at Hastings on Sunday with a seven race card that begins at 2:00 p.m.
Bloodhorse Headlines, Sunday May 14
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