Porter Gent Lifts Damp Spirits
Porter Gent Lifts Damp Spirits
Exciting finishes kept racegoers warm on the dampest of spring afternoons at Hastings, as local trainer Rob Gilker ships to Emerald Downs for MSW win
Perfect weather for ducks (and their ducklings!) at Hastings on Sunday but seven races, highlighted by some wincingly close finishes and a magnificent front-end performance by PORTER GENT, kept the cold at bay.
Race 1.
The Sunday opener went to the WYN Racing Stables’ VON DOM ($4.50) who led the field throughout over the sloppy conditions in a decent time of 1:13.33. The recent purchase from the April 2022 CTHS HASTINGS Paddock Sale paid immediate dividends for his new owners by carving out sensible early splits under Amadeo Perez of 23.54 and 47.49 and had plenty left in the stretch to claim victory for trainer Larry Grieve. The Rocking Bar B Outfit’s SEA CADET was away well and challenged for the lead stayed with VON DOM until the sixteenth pole before yielding late but held well for second. Rob and Sheena Maybin's EYE BE SEEING YOU had a tough trip racing three wide the entire trip but kept fighting on and finished a close third.
Race 2.
The second on the day was won by newcomer LUCKY LUKE ($14.60) who broke a little slow then rushed up the inside to gain the lead alongside FOOT SOLDIER heading into the first turn and raced as a tandem (23.78, 47.03) until deep stretch when the Horsepower and Minnaloushe Stables LUCKY LUKE took control and won impressively in a rapid 1:11.95 with Learie Seecharan in the saddle. The Hawaiian Shirt Guys’ FOOT SOLDIER catapulted out his outside gate to immediately grab the lead and raced gamely throughout but was simply was outrun by a better horse today and finished a clear second. Jordan Froelich's MR. QUALITY looked promising in his Hastings debut rallying from well back to be a fast closing third beaten by a little more than three lengths.
Race 3.
The third race was won by the High Stakes Thoroughbreds and John Snow’s JUVEE TOO who relaxed nicely off of the slow early pace 24.03 and 47.96 then started to inch away at the quarter-pole and built up a clear lead turning for home and held it gamely to the wire under apprentice Angela Straight in 1:13.71. Terry Clyde and Mike Anderson's NORTHERN KID sat a perfect trip on the inside behind the speed then when asked he produced a solid final quarter mile move but couldn’t quite get to the winner and finished a clear second. George Gilbert's BETTIN' MAN charged out of the gate and easily held the early lead but was outrun by the top two in the stretch and ended up third. BETTIN' MAN was claimed for $4,000 by the G.O. Stables for trainer Erick Gutierrez.
Race 4.
The fourth went to Rob and Sheena Maybin's BELLAROO who sat a stalking trip under Silvino Morales chased down the runaway leader KOALA in deep stretch to get the win in a sharp 1:12.78 in only her second lifetime start. Kent Bird and Dino Condilenios’ KOALA showed her customary speed got a sift quarter in 23.82 then sped it up to 47.01 for the half-mile and built up a sizeable lead heading into the stretch but got reeled in approaching the wire and had to settle for second. Dave and Sylvea Gregory's SUNGOLD BEAUTY sat much of trip in the three path who h was unfortunate and could only manage third money as the betting choice.
Race 5.
The fifth of the afternoon was the most exciting of the day as Larry Potozny's OUREVELADY ($14.20) came from last at the quarter pole to circle past her nine rivals and just get up in the shadow of the wire for a head victory under Scott Williams in 1:13.32 for trainer Barbara Heads. The RC Racing's RICHARDS COMMAND had a terrible beginning getting bounced around at the start costing her two or three lengths and did well to make the most of a bad situation by relaxing early and showing true grit moving up four wide on the final bend and just missed for trainer Keith Pedersen. The Bulldog Brothers and Mel Snow's ANIMA turned in another strong performance running third after a tough trip.
Race 6.
The feature race of the day was for Allowance runners going six furlongs and showing amazing resiliency was the Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds PORTER GENT who set a fast and contested pace (22.82, 45.78) yet still managed to fend off all challenges and earn a hard fought head victory. The runner-up was equally as impressive Don Danard and Mel Snow's CASCADE BILLY who raced on the outside of PORTER GENT through rapid fractions but despite the very quick early tempo they were able to form a profitable $41.60 Exactor. Terry Clyde and Mike Anderson's DEPARTURE ran a big race against some seasoned stakes caliber runners and he showed that he belongs finishing less than two lengths in arrears of the top two after an awkward trip from his outside post.
Race 7.
The last of the day went according to plan as the 1/5 favourite ARIKARA ($2.70) did not disappoint her backers winning by a neck at the end in a decent final time of 1:13.60 with Amadeo Perez in the tack.. George Gilbert's ARIKARA watched a three-ply duel evolve in front of her and showed her best on the stretch turn and ended just lasting ahead of the D and E Racing Stables ONE FLEET PRINCESS who ran a huge race from off of the pace. The Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds VALUE DANCER is another that had no speed yet still managed to fly late to get into the top three.
Highlights:
Amadeo Perez had a riding triple.
The Pick 5 carryover is at $2,965 and the Pick 6 has a $1,413.
The handle was $419,735.
Numbers add up for Team Gilker
Congratulations to Rob & Vicky Gilker, who landed a $24k MSW at Emerald Downs on Sunday with their #BCbred, NINE ONE ONE (Maclean’s Music - Gift Wrap (Sky Mesa). Bred by Steen and Cathy Reggelsen, the 4yo was favourite despite being out of action for 20 months.
You can check out all Sunday’s results from Hastings by clicking on the blue button here:
Our next live card is next Saturday at 2 p.m. Also on tap will be the of the 148th running of the Preakness Stakes which is the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
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