Opening Day at Hastings
Six competitive puzzles to solve at Hastings, as well as the little matter of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby
The Mark Cloutier-trained ANNIKA’S SONG went down narrowly in two of her three runs last season and is a year older than her rivals, which gives her a distinct advantage at this time of year. Along with barnmate NU BLEND, she stopped the clock with a bullet in her most recent workout and looks the one to beat. Traditionally a strong early starter, trainer Dino Condilenios saddles a couple of interesting debutantes in GIMLET and GNOCCHI. Both are well bred and have been working well enough to suggest neither will remain maidens for too long.
DON’TPASSTHEPEPPER and MISS THE HYPE represent barns that normally make a quick start and both won at the first time of asking last season, with the former going on to win twice more in similar company. Miss the Hype usually comes with a late challenge, while Don’tpassthepepper should be closer to the front end throughout. ANOTHERSUNNYDAY closed out 2024 campaign with two fine wins, has been working well in the mornings and is another from a traditionally fast-starting barn.
KNOPFLER earned cult status at Hastings last year with four wins, three seconds and two third-place finishes from 10 starts. He and DEPUTY’S DANCER fought out a dramatic finish on opening day 12 months ago, with Deputy’s Dancer prevailing narrowly, and they’re the two to beat again here. KOWBOYKABIN makes his Hastings debut and may have a slight fitness advantage after arriving from Turf Paradise, where he last ran in January.
The Kentucky Derby is always a fun race to try and predict and this year will be no different, writes Mike Heads.
This is the only time in most of their careers that each entrant will have to run against 19 other hungry opponents, which is an intimidating endeavor in itself, not to mention 100,000 plus screaming racing enthusiasts making the atmosphere unlike any other for these three-year-old superstars.
A talented runner and a pile of good fortune goes a long way into the outcome of the world’s most prestigious race and I really like the # 18 SOVEREIGNTY, who I think is as good as anyone and will just need a little of that good fortune to claim victory in this year’s Derby renewal.
More than half of the field want to be near the pace, which should play out perfectly for his off-the-pace style. Although the shorter stretch and speed-favouring surface at Gulfstream Park didn’t do him any favors, he still managed a narrow win in the Fountain of Youth and followed-up with a closing runner-up effort in the Florida Derby. He galloped out strongly at the end of that race and that should set him up for a top effort in Kentucky. He also owns an impressive win at Churchill, crushing the Street Sense field last fall, winning by five lengths in an impressive time.
The # 8 JOURNALISM is a deserving favourite, although I have concerns as his three Stakes tries heading into the Derby were in five-horse fields. He was able to secure a golden position in most of his races, which led to his powerhouse performances in California but, with 20 runners in the lineup here, things could be very different for him. That said, I still respect his talent and will put him in the second spot.
The # 10 GRANDE is lightly raced and appears to have a ton of ability, recently losing his undefeated status to runaway leader RODRIGUEZ (a late scratch from the Derby, which draws the also eligible BAEZA into the race) in last month’s Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. He is nicely drawn in gate ten and John Velazquez rejoins him in the saddle, giving the son of Curlin a big chance at a nice price.
A recent recruit from Delta Downs in Louisiana (by way of Turf Paradise), TRIPLE L’S CUTTER makes her third start of the year here and her sixth since closing day at Hastings. She should hold a distinct fitness advantage, although her five lifetime wins have all come over longer distances than she faces today. VALERIE VALESKI has winning form at this distance and represents the traditionally fast-starting Rob Maybin barn, while TEXAS HUMOR has also won over six furlongs and has attracted an interesting jockey booking in leading rider, Amadeo Perez.
This appears, on paper at least, to be a fascinating shootout between BAK TO LIBERTY and FINDING WAYS, both of whom closed out last season with wins and who have both been mixing it successfully in deeper waters than they encounter here. Both have been working solidly and they come from fast-starting barns. JERSEYS IMAGE, meanwhile, beat Bak to Liberty comfortably over today’s distance when they met on their season debuts last year and has been showing up well in the mornings.
This might be a bit on the sharp side for RICK’S DANCER, whose two wins last season came at a mile-and-sixteenth. However, he hit the board in seven of his ten outings last term and should again make his presence felt. THOMPSON, a recent arrival from Turf Paradise, is another who probably needs more real estate to be seen at his best, but he’s making his ninth start since last November and should lack nothing in fitness. BUCK’S FIZZ also makes his Hastings debut after a 2024 Woodbine campaign that saw him win twice in arguably tougher company than he takes on here.
Thoroughbred Awards Official Photos by Willow Penno
Canadian Bloodlines in 151st Kentucky Derby
A tough Woodbine mare from the 1990s and her Ontario-bred dam, plus Deputy Minister and others, are featured in Derby pedigrees.
Article courtesy Jennifer Morrison and Canadian Thoroughbred
Each year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) field brings together an interesting collections of horses from all over the continent, or world, with some very unique pedigree lines. Of course the greatest stallion of them all, NORTHERN DANCER, Canada’s superstar, appears in most horses today.
Through his sons and daughters as well, the Dancer is a major influence on speed, stamina and toughness in Derby starters.
There are other Canadian-breds in the breeding of starters in this year’s 151st Derby, names that some may not remember, but they are significant nonetheless.
Here are some Canadian horses and the Derby starters’ pedigrees they appear in:
From the Province:
Hasting Racecourse opens Saturday, while they run for the roses in Kentucky
By Nigel Reid, courtesy The Province
Horse racing shakes off its winter hibernation and returns to Hastings Racecourse on Saturday, where the locals will share top billing with the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby.
Hastings, which opened in 1892 and Vancouver’s longest continuously used professional sports venue, is celebrating opening day by offering a “Mystery Wallet” giveaway, with $100 in betting vouchers up for grabs. Arrangements have also been made to pause live racing to allow fans to view the Kentucky Derby live on the track’s jumbo screen.
More locally, veteran Hastings’ trainers Barbara Anderson-Heads and Steve Henson will both be hoping for a repeat of last season when, between them, they sent out more than 80 winners. However, 2025 will be a very different campaign for both barns as they each come to terms with the passing of important owners.