Rain Soaks Rivals in Winning Return
Under suitably heavy skies, last season's dual Derby winner AUGUST RAIN returned to action at Hastings and didn't disappoint; catching the magnificent BOLD ARCH late to land the day's feature
HIGHLIGHTS
Amadeo Perez had a riding triple.
FIVE of the day’s six races were won by horses bred here in B.C.
The handle was $389,79
With plenty of showers around, racegoers were forced to keep one eye on the grey skies. A mid-afternoon deluge made for an exciting afternoon’s racing, with the rain-soaked track providing a fast surface. The going was sloppy, but fair, throughout.
Racing Review by Mike Heads
Race 1.
The first on Saturday went to Lorie Henson and Helen Klimes’ heavily favoured mare QUEEN OF ATTITUDE ($3.40), who took her customary spot at the rear of the field early with Amadeo Perez at the controls, then proceeded to creep up the inside on the backside before looping the field three-wide on the final bend, cruising to a big score in 1:16.38 for trainer Steve Henson. Stewart Spencer and Sean Ederer’s KNOPFLER ran huge in defeat as he battled through demanding splits (21.74, 45.30). He stayed-on strongly to be a clear second under Antonio Reyes for trainer Keith Pedersen. Harold and Sandra Barroby's JERSEYS IMAGE settled nicely in behind the speed for Kuri Powell and was running-on well at the end in a very good performance for Harold Barroby.
Claims:
KNOPFLER was claimed by owner Mike D'Addabbo for trainer Dino Condilenios
Race 2.
The second of the afternoon saw Wil-a-Way Farms, Gail Jewsbury and Pat Jarvis’ DIOCLES ($14.20) take a beautiful two-wide trip on a slow early pace (23.32, 47.34) with Kerron Khelawan in the saddle. They proved best in the stretch to win in 1:16.74 for trainer Pat Jarvis. Dave and Sylvea Gregory's SOARINGFORTHESUN had the rail and the early lead under Chris Mamdeen and kept his narrow margin to the top of the stretch but was outrun to the wire, ending up a good second for conditioner Sylvea Gregory. Randy Lane and Roy Nelson's RUN RUDOLF was stuck out in the three path the entire race under Kimal Santo and they did well to be a close third for trainer, Cindy Krasner.
Race 3.
The third on the program was won by Rob and Sheena Maybin's FINDING WAYS ($10.80) who, after a contested opening quarter, was guided by Chris Mamdeen to get the rail on the backstretch and they battled determinedly to the wire, winning narrowly in 1:11.22 for trainer Rob Maybin. TC Racing's STANFORD BAY showed good speed under Kerron Khelawan, lead into the first turn, then yielded to get to the outside on the backside. They raced in tandem with the winner until late, settling for a good second for trainer Rob Gilker, which was impressive considering his rival had a race under his belt. WYN Racing Stables DUPLICATION rallied up the inside to be a fast-closing third in a encouraging Vancouver debut under recently-returned Antonio Reyes for trainer Larry Grieve.
Claims:
FINDING WAYS was claimed by owner/trainer Nancy Betts
Race 4.
The fourth race was a salty allowance tilt that saw Peter Redekop's AUGUST RAIN ($9.70) settle in the third spot early, drafting behind a moderate pace under Amadeo Perez before shifting to the three-path on the final turn and flying home to get up in deep stretch in 1:16.21 for trainer Barbara Heads. Robin Sadler, Kim and John Morrison’s BOLD ARCH ran his usual brilliant race, setting a comfortable pace (22.20, 45.73) under Chris Mamdeen, but just got reeled in late and finished a clear second for conditioner John Morrison. Pauline Felicella's SUNBIRD is better suited to longer distances, so his late run to be third sprinting was a good effort with Kimal Santo up for trainer Terry Jordan.
Race 5.
The fifth race of the day saw Bob Leffler, Bryan Killins and Gord McCormick’s ANOTHERSUNNYDAY ($4.20) leave the gate a little slow again, but it didn’t matter today as the Dino Condilenios trainee looped runners on the stretch turn to win convincingly under Kimal Santo in 1:19.64. Hastings Horsepower and Motley Crew's TRIPLE L'S CUTTER closed up sharply in the stretch in a really good effort to get the runner-up spot under Learie Seecharan for trainer Dave Milburn. WYN Racing Stables’ ICE BREAKER was close to the pedestrian early pace (24.54, 49.84) with Amadeo Perez at the helm. They challenged for the lead on the backside but couldn’t match strides with top two, finishing a close third for Larry Grieve.
Race 6.
The sixth on the program saw an impressive first-up run from TC Racing's EXTRA INNINGS ($8.40), who blasted out the gate, setting lively fractions for 22.11 and 45.48 under Amadeo Perez. They had plenty in reserve to cruise well clear under the line in 1:17.62 for trainer Rob Gilker. Pete Gregory, Cody and Kelsi Wellard's TEXAS MOONSHINE made an impressive late kick from well off the pace to grab the second place cheque under Bebeto Harvey for conditioner, Pete Gregory. Lorie Henson Helen Klimes and Sharon Pring's QUAGMIRE was shuffled back a bit approaching the first turn under Richard Balgobin, but they managed to get off the rail and put in a solid run to be third for Steve Henson.
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