Saturday's Previews

Aquitania Arrival takes on a classy collection of speedsters, including the pictured Set to Shine, in the day's feature event on what promises to be another highly-competitive day of racing action!

Jun 24, 2023

He’ll have to prove he can handle the unique demands of Hastings, but MEMORANDUM looks like the one they have to beat here. Claimed out of a Golden Gate maiden in April, the 4yo had previously been in action at Santa Anita and Del Mar. This looks more like his level. DEANARROW was beaten a nose under Fraser Aebly last month and a repeat of that would see him go close. THREE DAY BENDER has form from last year that would win this and, while he’s run moderately both times this season, he can play a role.

The popular PINEAPPLE TIDBITS makes her first appearance for new connections after being claimed last time. She does well at this level, is remarkably consistent and, given fair passage, will be thereabouts again today. ZETAMARIE is another ultra-consistent sort who is equally effective at this 8½-furlong course and is a must for the shortlist, while SILK STILETTOS returns to the grade at which she won in May after disappointing last time and she could be a threat. IRISH LUNA had Pineapple Tidbits behind her when winning at a higher grade and over this distance last August. She didn’t perform well on a sloppy track last time but, forgive her that, and she has a live shot.

AQUITANIA ARRIVAL went into plenty of notebooks when winning comfortably on his Hastings debut and, while this represents a tougher challenge, he will have plenty of support to follow up. BELCARRA PARK led them a merry dance until fading last time but still wasn’t beaten too far behind the smart We B Three and Solarity and she represents some value against the boys. It’s been more than a year since SMART LAD won, but he’s never far away and a repeat of his close second to Florida Gator last time, with Sir Bregovic in third, would put him close again. BOLD ARCH did well enough last time, given his stumble early in the race, and if he could recapture his best form of last year, he would give them plenty to think about.

AZOV SEA makes his Hastings debut on the back of two unplaced efforts in California. He will have plenty of support to break his maiden at what should be a more manageable level than he has so far encountered. This is no ‘gimme’ however, and there are plenty of dangers, including ENGLISH BAY TEDDY, who was third to Jersey’s Image and subsequent easy winner Dynamiter last time. MY MAN STAN is another California (by way of Emerald Downs) import who should benefit from the class drop he gets following two unplaced efforts in Seattle. UNION MAN fought his rider for a long way last time but still rallied to finish third. He’ll need to settle better today but he’s one for the shortlist.

QUEEN OF ATTITUDE beat LASTING LIGHT by a neck when they clashed last month and had the same foe behind her when second to Pretty Aria before that. She looks the one to beat. KOALA dominated her rivals, winning by 10 lengths earlier this month, although this represents a significantly more difficult challenge. NINE O’CLOCK CEASER put 5½ lengths on Texas Legacy to win on her racing debut two weeks ago and, while this is unknown territory, she was impressive that day and might just be a smart one.

SHE’S ON FIRE has been consistent without winning in all five of her career runs and performed well enough from a wide draw, and on a sloppy track, last time to suggest she will soon lose her maiden tag. DRILL BABY DRILL, who has taken the runner’s-up spot in half her 16 runs to date, finished ahead of She’s On Fire last time and should eventually win one of these, while LILSISTERLEE was fourth behind the pair two weeks ago and is definitely in the mix.

STAR FINALITY takes a small step back up the class ladder here after breaking her maiden against She’s On Fire and Drill Baby Drill last time – which should mean clues aplenty from the previous race. Prior to her win, she ran well enough behind the useful Indyetta and even a repeat of that would see her go close today. TEXAS HUMOR ran second to Miss the Hype last time, with PERFECT PENNY behind, and is in the mix. STOPSHOPPINGSHELLEY isn’t easy to weigh up but drops into the bottom level here and may be worth another chance following two moderate efforts. She won first time up as a juvenile last year before running a close fifth in Stakes company. Anything near that today and she’ll be a factor.