Moving up the Ladder
The Mark Cloutier-trained Visenya continues to rise through the ranks, winning on Sunday for a $25k tag after starting out at the $4k level back in May
Highlights:
Trainer Dave Milburn saddled two winners on the day
Both riders Amadeo Perez and Learie Seecharan had riding doubles
The Pick 5 carryover into Monday is $72,170 and it is a MANDATORY payout day tomorrow
The Pick 6 was hit with a unique ticket and it returned $5,754
The handle came in at $508,121
Another sizzling July afternoon, with horses and fans alike thankful for the shade, reduced paddock times, shorter post parades and lots of cold water. The track was fast, with five of the seven races favouring speed up front.
Race 1.
The Sunday kicked off with a brilliant performance from Joe and Gloria Russo's KHAIKY’S COMMAND ($4.10) who dominated throughout setting easy fractions of 22.64 and 46.52 which allowed him to have lots left for the final quarter-mile and he drew off under Learie Seecharan for trainer Jaymie Pearman in 1:16.94. Lorie Henson, Helen Klimes and Sharon Pring's QUAGMIRE was conservatively ridden early sitting second conceding the front end and stayed there throughout. The Willow Creek Farms and Fabio Chiesa’s TIZ MEOW was hurt by the slow early splits and had to settle for third.
Race 2.
The second of the day went to Stuart Carmichael’s VISENYA ($13.00) who surprisingly found herself on the lead after the lone speed broke slowly so Amadeo Perez seized the opportunity and set a leisurely tempo of 24.50, 48.63 and 1:14.24 and had plenty left to hold off the late challenge of SLOOP JOHN B in the stretch to win in 1:45.98 for trainer Mark Cloutier. The Minnaloushe Stables and Dave Milburn's SLOOP JOHN B turned in another solid effort sitting in behind he slow pace and sprinting to the wire under Learie Seecharan but just got outrun a d had to take home the second prize. Kent Bird and Dino Condilenios BETTER TONE rallied from far back despite the slow early pace to get the third spot.
Race 3.
The third of the afternoon was easily taken by the G.O. Stables KOALA ($5.30) who decided to change running styles under Amadeo Perez and settled just off of the quick pace (22.01, 45.17) breezed up to the leaders approaching the far turn and ran them off their heels winning by a seven lengths in 1:17.42 for trainer Erick Gutierrez. The WYN Racing Stables ICE BREAKER was a little farther back than usual and came running late to just snare second money with Scott Williams up for conditioner Larry Grieve. Dave and Sylvea Gregory's COUNTESS CAT turned in a huge performance setting those scorching fractions and held on gamely for third.
Race 4.
The fourth was won by the Hastings Horsepower and Minnaloushe Stables LASTING LIGHT ($14.60) who cleverly was wrangled back to last early at least ten lengths off of the quick pace then produced lethal four wide run on the final turn to win easily under Learie Seecharan for trainer Dave Milburn in a sharp 1:17.81. The Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds KICK UP THE DUST settled in behind the speed and grinded out a good second place finish under Amadeo Perez for trainer Edgar Mendoza. Peter Redekop’s ANOTHERSUNNYDAY ran well chasing the blazing fractions (22.10, 46.57) that were being laid down and just got nailed for second ending up third.
Race 5.
The fifth on the card was won in wire-to-wire fashion by the Minnaloushe Stables and Dave Milburn's BABY GRAND ($12.80) who was afforded pedestrian fractions of 25.34, 51.46 and a marathon-like split of 1:17.20 for the first six panels under Kimal Santo and the two easily breezed under the line clear winners in 1:47.06. Josh McNeil's ONE FIFTY ONE was likely best as he suffered from a wide trip chasing the slow pace and was travelling well at the end but couldn’t get to the winner. Lance Giesbrecht and Gord Christoff’s ERLICH was a lot closer to the pace today which served him well as he closed up the rail to be third.
Race 6.
The sixth on the program went to the heavy favourite Rob Thacker’s AIRAFFAIR ($3.40) who sat much of the trip in the three path under Silvino Morales behind a very slow pace and just managed to get up for a hard fought victory in 1:17.94 for trainer Demetris Topouzis. The L and S Farms and High Stakes Thoroughbreds REPRIMAND broke alertly under Angela Straight and set a sensible pace of 23.10 and 47.15 battled on gamely to the finish and just lost the photo for win. Gabrielle Mathussek’s PADDY D'ORO was tucked in nicely behind the pace setters and popped out in the stretch but his rally proved to be too late and ended up a close third.
Race 7.
The final dash of the day went to the ten-year-old BLUEGRASS ANGUS ($7.30) who is owned by his trainer Craig MacPherson and he went unchallenged throughout and set comfortable splits of 23.08 and 46.99 then opened up for an easy score recapturing some of his younger glory under Efrain Hernandez to win in a days best of 1:16.65. Rob and Sheena Maybin's THE ALL BUTTON sat a good trip in second behind the slow pace but could not get to the winner. Roy and Dixie Jacobson’s COULTERBERRY was away poorly and was not done any favours by the slow pace and did well to rally sharply to be third.
Latest Standings
Owners:
Rob and Sheena Maybin - 7
George Gilbert - 7
Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds - 6
Joe and Gloria Russo - 6
Trainers:
Barbara Heads - 23
Edgar Mendoza - 18
Mark Cloutier - 17
Steve Henson - 12
Jockeys:
Amadeo Perez - 36
Antonio Reyes - 32
Efrain Hernandez - 20
Scott Williams - 18
Trumpet Man Returns to Hastings
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport
For the first time in many years Hastings Racecourse will feature the familiar sound of the “Call to the Post” live and in person throughout Monday’s BC Cup race card.
John Korsrud is an internationally acclaimed composer, musician and trumpet player who grew up in East Vancouver. He is the leader and principal composer of the 18-piece Hard Rubber Orchestra he formed in 1990. John has performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall, and been commissioned by The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the CBC Radio Orchestra. He produced The World’s First New Music Ice Show for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. And now he is returning to Hastings Racecourse.
Through it all, Korsrud has lived in the Commercial Drive neighbourhood for the past 15 years. One of his favourite pastimes is strolling ‘The Drive’ for early morning coffee and finding an available park bench to enjoy the sights, scenery and people.
“I played the trumpet for the horse races at Hastings a long, long time ago,” he says. “It’s great to be invited back and I can’t express how much I’m looking forward to it.”
Local racing fans will be equally excited about his return guest appearance on BC Cup Day. You know we’re talking a quality person when he puts retired Vancouver Canucks captain Stan Smyl at the top of his list of all-time favourite Vancouver athletes. “The Steamer gave it everything he had, night after night,” Korsrud says. “I have used his work habits in coaching some of my musicians. I tell them to dig in and give it their all … just like Stan Smyl did throughout his playing days.”
First post time Monday is 2 p.m. Admission is free with families of all ages welcome to share in the excitement.
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