Saturday's Previews
Stakes action at Hastings as last year's leading three year olds join the older-horse brigade. Back east, meanwhile, there's the little matter of the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes
FLYING MISS, who represents the flying Rob Maybin barn, went gate-to-wire to win on her season debut last month and, despite having another half-a-furlong to go today, can follow-up here. ALOBRAH would be the main danger on paper. She has dropped slowly through the grades but was rallying well enough on her comeback race against tougher opponents than she faces today and should be thereabouts. ISLAND LIVING plugged on gamely behind Foothills Blvd. last time, with FEISTY ELLA just behind, and can hit the board again.
FOOTHILLS BLVD. made fairly light work of her opponents last time, geared down by Kerron Khelawan to win with a little in hand. She now finds herself in open company and this will be a little tougher; but she flies the flag for the in-form Keith Pedersen barn and can follow up here. The Hastings Racing Club are having a lot of fun with BACKBURNER. She beat Foothills Blvd. on her season debut last month and lost little in defeat last time. She shouldn’t be far away again. The consistent TRIPLE L’s CUTTER rallied well from behind a slow pace to finish second last time and should be doing her best work late again here.
There aren’t many who try and match strides with Bold Arch and live to tell the tale, but MASEN was cruising alongside that speed merchant on his Hastings debut before weakening late. The well-bred son of Kingman can get his Hastings career back on track here in what looks a marginally easier assignment. Masen’s trainer Craig MacPherson saddles three runners and could easily have the exacta with LUCKY FORCE, who mixed it with sone of the best around last term. RUN RUDOLF enjoyed a successful winter campaign at Turf Paradise and carried on the good work when third to Diocles on his return to Hastings. A repeat of that would see him go close.
Belmont Stakes Field
Belmont Analysis by Mike Heads
The 2025 Belmont Stakes will be run at the shorter trip of a mile-and-a-quarter at Saratoga Racecourse again this year, which is a quarter-mile less than the traditional mile-and-a-half, as the refurbishing of Belmont Park continues until September of 2026.
I liked #2 SOVEREIGNTY in the Derby and I’m going to follow him back. The connections chose to skip the Preakness and ship directly to Saratoga to prepare him for the Belmont, which I think is a big plus for him. The pace should be honest with #3 RODRIGUEZ and #5 CRUDO likely not letting either one get too far away, while closely tracking will be #6 BAEZA and #7 JOURNALISM. That which should play out perfectly for #2 SOVEREIGNTY, who will get to watch everything play out in front of him before Junior Alvarado decides when to use his lethal late kick. His pedigree and running style are ideally suited to this ten furlong test and, being a rested runner, he should be tough to beat and claim two-thirds of the Triple Crown for owner Godolphin and trainer Bill Mott.
I will follow #2 SOVEREIGNTY with #6 BAEZA, who was also rested after a big run from post 19 to be an impressive third in the Derby for veteran trainer John Shirreffs. He has a lot of upside, ontinues to improve and has shown he belongs in this elite company.
After two amazing runs #7 JOURNALISM is tough to put in the third spot, he definitely deserves to be rated higher but, like many others, I’m concerned about the three races in five weeks. It takes a special horse to fire a top effort in all three Triple Crown races and, while maybe he can be that special horse, I will be playing against him — although I certainly won’t be surprised if he wins it for Umberto Rispoli and trainer Mike McCarthy.
This Belmont lacks the field size of the first two legs of the Triple Crown but the major players are in the gate which should make it a race to remember.
With her exaggerated come-from-behind running style, AVANA’s opponents may not see her coming, but they will know she’s back there somewhere, waiting to pounce. Peter Redekop’s extraordinary filly remains unbeaten in six Hastings starts and, as long as she doesn’t overdo the hanging around at the rear, it’s hard to see how she can be stopped here as she bids for a sixth career Stakes win. BUNNY seems to have the measure of the speedy AIR FORCE at the moment and can give the favourite most to worry about, while WIRLY GIRLY continues to improve, has earned her shot at Stakes company and should give a good account of herself.
A fascinating renewal of the George Royal, which sees last year’s top three-year-old AUGUST RAIN bidding to follow up on his narrow win over BOLD ARCH last time. It won’t be easy. The redoubtable BOLD ARCH will take some stopping, especially if able to dictate matters on the front end, while SUNBIRD has been one of the best at Hastings for several years now and made an excellent season debut behind August Rain in May. DIOCLES beat August Rain in last year’s Winston Churchill Stakes and looked to have more in the tank when getting up late to beat SOARINGFORTHESUN on his reappearance. Don’t rule him out, either.
The indefatigable QUEEN OF ATTITUDE took up where she left off last season, by winning. Again. Remarkably, the mare goes for a ninth win in 11 starts, stretching back to 2023 and another victory today would make it 14 lifetime wins, and four in a row. She remains an absolute credit to her barn and looks the answer to a typically tough finale. INDYETTA started the year with a victory and lost noting in defeat when second to Arikara last time, with ROSE OF TEXAS, LICORICE and DON’TPASSTHEPEPPER behind her.
Lisa & Mike’s Saturday Selections
From the Province:
Belmont history beckons while Avana chases 'legend' status at Hastings Racecourse
A five-time Stakes winner last season, Avana remains unbeaten at Hastings and is a warm favourite for the Emerald Downs Stakes on Saturday.
A place in racing history awaits the winner of the final leg of the Triple Crown on Saturday, when Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty takes on Preakness winner Journalism in the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.
It’s far from a two-horse race, but if either of the main protagonists prevails in the $2-million contest, he will hold the bragging rights as best three-year-old colt in North America. And it’s only June.
The three-year-olds at Hastings, by contrast, will have to wait another week before their important tests even begin. This weekend sees the older generation kick off the Hastings’ Stakes Program with six fillies and mares going for the $40,000 Emerald Downs Stakes, while seven boys are slated for the $40,000 George Royal Stakes. Trainer Barbara Heads saddles the likely favourite in each race.
August Rain, winner of both the Canadian and B.C. Derbies last season, goes in the George Royal, while the remarkable Avana, winner of the B.C. Oaks and four other important Stakes contests last season, will be a favourite in the Emerald Downs. Avana’s tendency to dawdle along at the rear before chasing down her prey from a seemingly impossible position, is gaining her quite the fan club at Hastings, even while her running style is causing rising blood pressure among her connections.
“I was concerned a couple of times last season that she wouldn’t be able to make up the ground,” Heads explained this week. “Especially when we hit a slow pace. Because normally, when your horses are way off the pace like that, you depend on a good pace in front of you.”
Heads continued, “Every horse has its own running style and that’s just hers. I try not to dissect it too much. Amadeo (Perez, her rider) knows her well now and lets her decide when to make her move.”
By contrast, the pugnacious August Rain will be found at the heart of the action in the George Royal Stakes.
Clocker’s Report by Lisa Russell
The two-year-olds are gearing up and we should have a baby race coming up shortly. With that in mind, two youngsters who have really caught our eyes hail from the Dino Condilenios barn are: DEBRUSK and TWICKENHAM. They popped the latch together, with a slight edge to Twickenham, in a very sharp 35.40 over the three furlongs and a strong gallop out, again with a slight edge to Twickenham, but his work mate Debrusk is no slouch. So when these two first appear, take a good look.
The next two on our list are running together in Saturdays third race, a very competitive Allowance Optional Claimer for older runners. STORMY BLUE, out of the Barb Heads stable, has been working very sharply in the A.M., with a final four-furlong prep in 47.20 and a strong out in 59.20. He runs well fresh and may be the lone true speed in the race. RUN RUDOLF also had a nice maintenance move in a very quick 46.80 four furlongs, with a 58.60 five-furlong gallop out, which he seemed to handle with ease. We were very impressed with both of these fellows, so take a look and, if you like what you see, play them.
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