Saturday's Previews
Saturday's seven-race card features a guaranteed $20k Pick 4, while on-track highlights include hat-trick seekers Koala and Makeitorbreakit and a full book of rides for leading jockey Amadeo Perez
LICORICE put in a super effort last month when third to Tapits Choice after duelling for most of the way with eventual runner-up, Wicked Night. She seems a consistent sort and shouldn’t be far away here. ANZAC BAY makes her season debut after just one start last season when a promising third to stablemate Addendum and Military Cross. She’s been working well enough in the mornings to suggest she can be a factor. SWANGIN was beaten a long way by Lola M last time but a repeat of either of her two runs last season give her some appeal. Of the unraced duo, QUEENS OVER JACKS, a half-sister to Belmont Allowance winner Silver Fist and seven-time Woodbine winner Walkabout Creek, makes most appeal.
ISLAND LIVING returns to 6½ furlongs after disappointing over the long course. This also represents a drop in class from her previous effort at this distance when a creditable 4th behind Tam Tricky. A repeat of that run would make her hard to handle in this company. PERFECT PENNY had ROSE OF TEXAS and GWEN behind her when chasing home Texas Humor last time and, prior to that, beat DRILL BABY DRILL when breaking her maiden. Drill Baby Drill then got off the mark himself and there doesn’t seem much between the two.
This appears to be a more suitable spot for FAMILY BIZ who is dropped a rung on the class ladder by connections following his fourth to excellent yardsticks Just Jimmy, Stay Fantastic and Fort Langley last time. PARKER POINT has hit the board five out of six times when sent over the 8½-furlong course and it’s difficult to see him not playing another significant role. LAUGH WITH ME had BLACK METAL behind when chasing home Tiz Vicious last month and should soon be winning again. MY COLLEGE FUND has had a run to blow the cobwebs away and returns to the level at which he won last September.
KOALA’s got her mojo working this year and lines-up here on a hat-trick after stepping up in class last time and still having enough to see off BELLAROO, QUEEN OF ATTITUDE and LASTING LIGHT. This is another difficult test today but she should still be involved at the sharp end. VIVA LA VINO was less than two lengths behind the smart Shamra last time and a repetition of that gives her a leading chance, while lightly-raced ADDENDUM can be expected to improve on her tough seasonal debut when fifth behind a collection of the best 3yo fillies at Hastings.
Bettors can pay their money and pick their cowboy here, with both VALUABLE COWBOY and COUNTRY COWBOY dropping in class and renewing rivalry after clashing last month. They were third and fourth respectively behind Finding Ways on that occasion and this represents marginally shallower waters for both. BABY GRAND represents the in-form David Milburn barn and lines up here after beating both WISE MARKET and FOOT SOLDIER last time.
STRIKING VALUE endured some traffic problems last time when settled near the rear early by Fraser Aebly but stayed-on well enough (with LILSISTERLEE weakening behind after making much of the running) to suggest she’s earned another shot at the long course. This is the first attempt at 8½ furlongs for Lilsisterlee, meanwhile, although it shouldn’t be an issue if the perennial frontrunner can settle. BE SPARKY may represent value at the windows after rallying from way back last time when fourth to Dynamiter on his first attempt at today’s distance.
BROKE AN BROKEN had subsequent winner Sloop John B behind him when winning over today’s distance last time and the Woodbine import appears to have adapted well to the unique demands of Hastings. This will be a tougher task but he’s consistent and clearly in good form. MAKEITORBREAKIT is on a hat-trick after two successive wins this season; although this represents a more difficult challenge. It’s also notable that he’s been abandoned by leading rider Amadeo Perez in favour of last-time-out winner, MR QUALITY, who had JUST MAKE BELIEVE behind him. The latter relishes this distance and he’s impossible to leave out here.
Statistics
Saturday’s Picks
Bailey’s Video Diary
Caribbean Jockeys Fitting Right In
Caribbean jockeys from Trinidad and Tobago find home in Vancouver on top of their thoroughbreds at Hastings Racecourse.
Owner/trainer Dave Milburn is having a hard time in his quest to find palm trees that he wants to put next to his barn at Hastings Racecourse.
“I am trying to make the ‘Islanders’ feel like they are at home,” said Milburn.
The veteran conditioner was referring to the group of jockeys riding at Hastings that came from the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago. The riders are Learie Seecharan, Kimal Santo, Kerron Khelawan, Ridge Balgobin and Brian Boodramsingh.
Milburn’s mother is Trinidadian.
“My Uncle Joe raced horses there and I spent some time there as a child,” said Milburn, who only uses jockeys from Trinidad and Tobago, most notably Seecharan.
It’s a solid group of riders and on June 25 the Trinidadian’s won five of the seven races at Hastings with Seecharan winning twice for Milburn.
Trainer Mel Snow likes what he sees.
“It’s great to have them here,” he said. “I think this is the best overall crop of riders we’ve had for awhile.”
The most accomplished is Boodramsingh, who was the Champion Jockey in his native country eight times.
Boodramsingh is currently sitting fourth in the standings at Hastings, and he feels with more experience he will get better at working his way around the just-over-five-furlongs’ oval.
“It is different riding on the smaller track, but I am getting used to it,” he said. “I am still learning and last weekend I won two races on Saturday and one on Sunday, so it is going well.”
With racing on the decline in Trinidad and Tobago, Boodramsingh was looking to ride elsewhere. He was aware of Hastings from reading about Learie and Lenny Seecharan in the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian newspaper. Lenny is currently riding at Woodbine in Ontario.
“The Guardian keeps track of all the riders from our country and after looking around, I thought Hastings would be a good place for me to go,” he said. “The people have been very friendly and have made me feel welcome. They make me feel like I am at home.”
Now, if Milburn could just get those palm trees.