Morales at the Double
Jockey Silvino Morales lit up Friday Night racing at Hastings with a superb double, while there were first wins of the year for riders Chris Mamdeen and Kuri Powell
HIGHLIGHTS
Silvino Morales rode a double
Jockeys Kuri Powell and Chris Mamdeen both got off the mark for the year
The Pick 5 has a carryover of $4,841 into today’s program
The handle came in at $467,435
The unavoidable clash with Stanley Cup playoff hockey didn’t help, but the superb weather made for an enjoyable evening under the lights as the ground remained fast and fair all evening
Race 1.
The first race on the Friday night program saw Swift Thoroughbreds’ PISCO ($4.80) weave his way through traffic to move off the rail in the stretch and get up for an impressive victory under Silvino Morales for Dino Condilenios in a sharp 1:17.92. Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds’ BAKBURNER was part of a quick early tempo with Antonio Reyes aboard, recording splits of 22.36 and 45.48, and the pair stayed on gamely to the wire to take home second money for trainer Edgar Mendoza. Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds’ OUR BLOKE was far back early and put in a big late run to get the third spot.
Race 2.
The second of the evening went to Willow Creek Farm's TEXAS MOONSHINE ($6.40), who took advantage of his inside draw and shot off to the lead under Antonio Reyes. The pair set easy fractions of 23.34 and 47.34 before sprinting home to an easy score in a rapid 1:17.19 for trainer Steve Henson. Willow Lake Farm and Stables’ ROLLIE'S SPIRIT was content to sit in second early under Ridge Balgobin before making a bid for the top on the stretch turn. However, he couldn’t stay with the winner and ended up second for conditioner John Snow. Helen Klimes, Jo-Anne McDonald and Sharon Pring's THERE GOES MY HERO lacked early position and made a good move with Amadeo Perez at the helm to take third for trainer Steve Henson.
Race 3.
The third race of the night was won by Peter Redekop's AVANA ($5.20) who was hustled out to the front by Amadeo Perez, setting sensible splits of 23.24 and 46.99, before drawing clear late for trainer Barbara Heads. SSRG Racing's LONIE MO was off a step slow, forcing her to settle just in behind the leaders but then made a nice run on the final bend to finish a promising second. Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds’ EDDIE'S GIRL put in another good effort and just missed getting the runner-up spot, ending up a good third for trainer Edgar Mendoza.
Race 4.
The fourth went to Dennis Dale, Morris Peter and Ed Welsh's ROCKCLIFFE ($12.70), who rode the rails to victory under Silvino Morales for trainer Keith Pedersen. The son of Second in Command was held back off of a contested pace and they then took advantage of an opening in the stretch and shot through to get the win. Warren Wilson, June Sutherland, Neil Stajkowski, Charlene Miller, Barry Hickman and Lesley Small's WISELY PLAYED was also far back in the early stages before making a four-wide run and just missed in a huge effort under Ridge Balgobin for trainer Charlene Miller. ReinDance Farm's BAKKEN OVERDRIVE was forced three-wide the entire trip and did very well to finish third, only a length from victory.
Race 5.
The fifth race saw a brilliant performance from Harold and Sandra Barroby's JERSEYS IMAGE ($26.60), who led from gate to wire, getting early splits of 23.56 and 46.72 before Kuri Powell shook the lines and they drew off to a huge win in a sparkling final time of 1:10.67 for Hall of Fame conditioner Harold Barroby. Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds and James Redekop's BAK TO LIBERTY settled in behind runners on the inside and stayed there for most of the trip, rallying to finish second for trainer Edgar Mendoza. Canyon Farm’s BACK SHACK finished third but was deemed a non-starter after he did not receive a fair start, so all money was refunded on him. As a result, Star Lot Stable’s DON W was moved up from fourth to third.
Race 6.
The sixth race of the night was won by WYN Racing Stables’ SOMTHING ELUSIVE ($17.40), who was cleverly ridden by Kimal Santo, biding his time down on the inside before finding room on the stretch turn and accelerating late to win in 1:11.45 for trainer Larry Grieve. Stewart Spencer's KNOPFLER ran another good one as he followed the winner up the rail but ran out of real estate and had to settle for second for trainer Keith Pedersen. Lorie Henson, Helen Klimes and Sharon Pring's QUAGMIRE suffered from a wide trip from his outside post under Amadeo Perez but still ran very well and checked in third for trainer Steve Henson.
Race 7.
The seventh of the evening went to Rob and Sheena Maybin's AVE'S IN COMMAND ($5.30), who situated himself on the head-end through a comfortable tempo (23.34, 47.18) by Chris Mamdeen before calling on all of his class to gain his tenth career triumph win in a tight photo, breaking the beam in a swift 1:17.55 for trainer Rob Maybin. J G Williamson’s GOOD BYE PUTIN saved every inch of ground early and made a big run up the inside in the stretch, only to lose by a neck under Antonio Reyes for Steve Henson. Willow Creek Farms and Fabio Chiesa’s FRANKIE MACHINE stalked the early pace with Scott Williams in the irons and the tandem pressed on nicely to finish a close third.
Racegoers at Hastings on Mother’s Day can win a fully-inclusive membership to the exciting Hastings Racing Club. Simply find the red BC Racebook tent on the tarmac and enter to win. There’s no entry charge and the winner will be announced at the end of live racing.
Hastings Racing Club Membership includes:
Reserved grandstand seating in the Hastings Racing Club section*
Accompanied paddock access before your races*
Free program on Club Race Days
Accompanied backstretch access to watch your horses in training
Orientation event
All costs associated with training, vet, blacksmith, stabling, entry fees
Updates about your horses, plus racing and ownership information