Santo Bags Big-Race Double
Rider Kimal Santo made it six wins for the new season, with a big-race double at Hastings on Saturday aboard multiple Stakes winner Soaringforthesun and last season's Champion 3yo filly, Air Force
Highlights
Kimal Santo had a riding double
Trainer Steve Henson saddled two winners
The handle came in at $303,115
Heavy early-morning rain gave way to a chilly late spring afternoon, with racegoers eager to seek out the occasional shaft of sunshine. The deluge left the Hastings track ‘sloppy’ all afternoon and once again favoured runners on the front end
Race 1.
Willow Creek Farm's NINE OCLOCK CEASAR ($3.00) kicked off the Saturday card with an easy score under Amadeo Perez leading throughout (22.54, 46.20) and winning effortlessly in 1:17.51 for trainer Steve Henson. Willow Creek Farm and Fabio Chiesa’s DUXONTHEPOND was a little slow to begin under Brian Boodramsingh but crept up the inside on the final turn and continued her move through the lane and earned the runner-up prize for Steve Henson. Randy Lane and Roy Nelson's ISLAND LIVING was in a perfect spot behind the slow pace under Antonio Reyes and looked to be a danger as they swung for home but the winner was too much and she had to settle for third for conditioner Keith Pedersen.
Race 2.
The second of the day saw RKR Racing's AMERICAN TSUNAMI ($7.60) break alertly with Kerron Khelawan in the saddle and set modest splits of 22.74 and 46.55 hen started to inch away on the final turn and drew clear late for an impressive score in 1:17.98 for trainer Nancy Betts. Rob and Sheena Maybin's EBONY EYES was perfectly positioned by Chris Mamdeen behind a contested pace and ran on nicely up the rail to claim the second spot. Swift Thoroughbreds LICORICE was stuck out in he three path for the entire trip and did well to be third under Scott Williams for Dino Condilenios.
Race 3.
The third on the program went to Dave and Sylvea Gregory's SOARINGFORTHESUN ($10.70) who parlayed a comfortable lead (22.82, 46.02) with Kimal Santo aboard and the two found the rail posting a game victory in 1:16.21 for Edgar Mendoza. The Felicella’s SUNBIRD was admirable in defeat as he narrowly lost despite traveling three wide throughout under Amadeo Perez for trainer Terry Jordan. Dennis Dale, Tabitha Perry, Sheryle Benson, Cathy and Kelly Rycroft's BIG UNION who given a perfect trip by Scott Williams sitting in the two path on the pace but couldn’t stay with the top two and finished a close third.
Race 4.
The fourth of the day was won by Rob and Sheena Maybin's ARIKARA ($6.70) who easily dusted off a field of $6,250 fillies and mares cruising through a comfy pace of 22.54 and 46.16 under Ridge Balgobin then sprinted home to win well clear in 1:16.76 for trainer Rob Maybin. Lorie Henson and Helen Klimes QUEEN OF ATTITUDE was her usual self early missing the break spotting the field five or six lengths then slid up the rail in the lane under Amadeo Perez to nail down the runner-up spot for Steve Henson. Don Tetarenko’s SILK STILETTOS was part of the pace with Silvino Morales in the irons and they were content to settle in the three path and stayed gamely to be a good third.
Race 5.
The fifth race on the program was an allowance test for fillies and mares and proving best was Dennis Dale, Morris Peter and Ed Welsh's AIR FORCE ($9.40) who set solid fractions of 21.91, 44.86 under Kimal Santo and had just enough left to hold on for the victory in a very swift 1:15.77 for trainer Keith Pedersen. Russ and Lois Bennett's VIVA LA VINO settled in behind the pace on the rail under Chris Mamdeen and rallied late but ran out of racetrack finishing a clear second. J G Williamson Racing MISS UNION was impressive in her first start at Hastings racing wide throughout under Scott Williams and winning the photo for third for trainer Steve Henson.
Race 6.
The sixth race saw Don and Sue Danard's B C CHRISTIE ($7.10) extract herself with the aid of Brian Boodramsingh from a pocket that looked hopeless in the stretch and finally shook loose in the closing strides to gain command and win in 1:18.32 for trainer Mel Snow. Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds PETERSON LANDING was held back off of the early pace by Amadeo Perez and made a good sustained run on the turn but had to settle for second for Edgar Mendoza. G.O. Stables and Alexa Ramirez's PENALTY TO RANGERS set a lively pace under Antonio Reyes (22.18, 45.85) and got a little tired late finishing a close third for trainer Erick Gutierrez.
Claims:
B C CHRISTIE was claimed by Owner/Trainer Demetris Topouzis
PETERSON LANDING was claimed by Owners White Hall Farms for Trainer Keith Pederson
Race 7.
The seventh race went to Willow Creek Farm's LUCKY COWBOY ($5.60) who showed good speed under Antonio Reyes, holding the rail and the lead through splits of 22.68 and 46.80, then drew clear when asked to win well in 1:18.12 for trainer Steve Henson. Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds’ RICK'S DANCER ran a much improved race with Kimal Santo up and rallied strongly to be second for conditioner Edgar Mendoza. Sandra Corsan’s BORROWED EQUITY and Brian Boodramsingh were stuck down on the inside and didn’t shake loose until deep stretch and could only rescue third money for trainer Mel Snow.
Claims:
RICK’S DANCER was claimed by owners Rob & Sheena Maybin for trainer Rob Maybin
Preakness Replay
SEIZE THE GREY (Arrogate) won the 149th Preakness Stakes at a muddy Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Saturday, edging Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan to land a seventh success in the second leg of the Triple Crown for 88-year-old Hall of Fame handler, D. Wayne Lukas. Seize The Grey was a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling consigned by Mill Ridge Sales and knocked down to group owners MyRacehorse for $300,000.
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Sunday, May 19
Racing at Hastings resumes next Friday evening at 7pm
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