Rain, Rain Go Away
Rain, Rain Go Away
April showers hampered the best laid plans of trainers at Hastings this week, while local interest turns to California on Saturday for the Santa Anita Oaks
While hardly a surprise, rain at this time of the year can still play havoc with the carefully laid plans of Hastings’ trainers.
With wet weather in the forecast there was plenty of action on Wednesday morning, as barns anxious to take advantage of a dry training surface altered their schedules. No fewer than 85 horses posted workout times on Wednesday, with just 32 on Thursday and only 16 willing to take on the mud on Good Friday morning.
Making the most of Wednesday’s dry conditions were a couple of three-year-olds who must surely count among the best maidens at Hastings following juvenile campaigns that saw both perform with major promise in Stakes company — but who are yet to notch that important first win.
The Mark Freeman-trained Fantasy Stakes and CTHS Sales Stakes runner-up MATSQUI (Finality) returned to fast work for the first time following a minor issue, while the Edgar Mendoza-trained BAK TO LIBERTY (Bakken), the half-brother to Infinite Patience who ran only at Stakes level last year and who performed admirably in all five starts, enjoyed a five-furlong breeze.
Moment of Truth for ‘Lies’
Peter Redekop’s brilliant Grade 1 winning filly AND TELL ME NOLIES (Arrogate), who made a highly encouraging reappearance when second to the Bob Baffert-trained Faiza in last month’s Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3), faces a rematch with the winner in Saturday’s Santa Anita Oaks (G2).
The sophomore, who landed the G1 Debutante Stakes at Del Mar last September before following-up in the G2 Chandelier at Santa Anita the following month, takes on eight opponents in the $400,000, mile-and-sixteenth contest. The Oaks is the eleventh race on a 12-race card headlined by the $750,000 RUNHAPPY Santa Anita Derby.
A major and longtime supporter of racing in Vancouver, Redekop is also set to add to his team at Hastings this season with a BC-bred youngster secured at the recent Ocala March Sale. By the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, VINO ROSSO (Curlin) and out REVEALING MOMENT (After Market), a winning full-sister to the former dual G1 winner (and Hastings Fantasy Stakes third!) BELLE GALLANTEY, the striking two-year-old (below) is set to join Redekop’s other horses under the care of trainer Barbara Heads. The filly, who is yet to have her name confirmed, is an exciting new recruit to the East Van oval and Mr Redekop’s sportsmanship in bringing her to Hastings to race is to be congratulated.
Local Connections
Several horses with local ties flew the red and white maple leaf with pride at Turf Paradise this week. Milton Palma saddled two winners in BC-bred pair TOOL TIME (Bakken) and MI REYNA (Bakken), while Cindy Krasner tightened the girth on Terry Clyde and Mike Anderson’s DEPARTURE (Run Away and Hide). The five-year-old gelding ran second in a valuable Allowance contest in a follow-up to his victory at the same venue last month. Jamie Pearman, meanwhile, continued her good form with two more second-place finishers in CALIBOGY (Golden Lad) and the former Hastings Racing Club favourite, HOLLYWOOD MISTRESS (Americain).
New Stride News
Coulter Named General Manager of CTHS National
The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario) Board of Directors announced April 6 that after 29 years, Julie Coulter (above, bottom left) has decided to resign as General Manager of CTHS (Ontario). Julie Coulter has accepted the position of General Manager of the National Office of the Canadian Thoroughbred Society National Office, effective July 1, 2023.
Defnition of Upset
DEFINING PURPOSE (Cross Traffic) was the 20-1 shock winner of the Grade 1 Cantral Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on Friday, stalking just off the pace before taking it up at the top of the straight and resolutely seeing off the challenge from odds-on favourite, Punchbowl.
Keenland’s famous Spring Meet continues Saturday with the $1 million G1 Toyota Bluegrass Stakes, an important prep for next month’s Kentucky Derby and featuring the reappearace of recent last-to-first Tampa Bay Derby winner, TAPIT TRICE (Tapit).
Have You Booked Your Tickets Yet?
