Saturday's Previews

The $50,000 River Rock Casino and the $50,000 Ross McLeod Stakes take centre stage on another cracking seven-race, Saturday-afternoon card that also features a classy-looking maiden contest

Jun 15, 2024

WEALTHY TEXAN (Brain Boodramsingh) — photo Michael Bye

EXTRA INNINGS makes his Hastings debut after being imported from California. He appears to have been working solidly in the mornings and, while we’ll all know a lot more after his first racing experience on the East Van bullring, he looks like a big danger as long as he adapts. BAK TO LIBERTY make his first appearance for new connections after being claimed following a win at this level last time. He’s been very consistent of late and is the one they have to beat on Hastings form. Neither BARBERRY BANDIT or GROOVIN’ IS BAK could land a blow on Back Shack or Bak to Liberty last time, although the track favoured front-end speed significantly that day and they should be a little closer here.

SMART LAD’s win over Settecento in May received a boost last weekend when the runner-up landed the George Royal Stakes. A repeat of that would see the zippy 6yo go very close again. JUST JIMMY is no slouch, either. He beat all bar Stormy Blue in a hot-looking Allowance on his season debut and scared the geese with his last piece of work. Meanwhile, barn-mate LUCKY FORCE was given too much to do behind the extremely rapid Bold Arch last time, with the winner very nearly breaking the track record. In the circumstances, he did well to finish fourth after making up lots of ground before, understandably, tiring close home. He should be nearer today.

EDDIE’S GIRL, who ran-on noticeably well against the smart-looking Avana last time, has run into some serious opponents in her two most recent efforts and did well to finish third in both. She takes a little class relief here and, although the contest doesn’t look much easier, is clearly the one they have to beat. WEEKENDINDELMAR makes her first appearance for new connections after being claimed last time and this, on paper at least, represents a small step up in class for the daughter of former Belmont Stakes winner, Union Rags. She will almost certainly need to improve again to take this, but looks a progressive sort. DREAMING D’ORO matched strides with Avana for much of the way last time before weakening to finish behind Eddie’s Girl. That was arguably the best run of her career so far and she should be in the mix again here.

QUATRE BAK made a terrific racing debut in what might turn out to be quite a hot maiden. The half-brother to Stakes performer Licorice did well to trade blows with the well-regarded, but subsequently-disqualified, Westminster before weakening late. Any normal progress on that first run could see him go very close here. HORATIO was luckless in Quatre Bak’s race. Eager in the gate, he then hopped out before getting bumped for good measure. A repeat of his prior effort, when a closing third to Diocles and Crown Council, should be enough to make him a major player today. HIGHLINER trailed home behind Diocles in the same race as Horatio but was a step slow getting away and was then squeezed for room on the rail and had to be steadied. He’s probably better judged on his second to the smart Vector on his final outing last year and a repeat of that would make him a genuine contender here.

With a just sole Del Mar outing in her juvenile campaign, AVANA made an impressive Hastings debut in May, making virtually every yard to see off subsequent winner LONIE MO. A repeat of that would make her very tough to beat here. She was kept up to her work by Amadeo Perez without being asked anything too serious and looks like a filly with a future. BAKBURNER had two lengths on VIVA LA DIVA at the wire last time, although it’s worth noting that ‘Diva’ was steadied momentarily on the home turn after a racing incident and was closing again at the finish. There’s probably not much between either of them. AMERICAN TSUNAMI quickened away from her rivals down the stretch last time and wouldn’t need to improve too much more to be a leading player here.

Impressive WEALTHY TEXAN was under a hard hold for most of the way last time, comfortably dispatching last season’s Champion juvenile August Rain and the smart VECTOR in the process. A repeat of that would make him very hard to beat here. AUGUST RAIN may have needed that first run back after his winter break and should be closer today — although that can also be said for ‘Texan’ and Vector and there didn’t look to be many excuses last time. DIOCLES won well despite needing the outing last time. He will appreciate every inch of the extra half-furlong he gets here and is a leading candidate again today. WESTMINSTER was impressive in his career debut, leading gate-to-wire and widening down the stretch before losing the race in the stewards’ room. He’s well-bred and, despite his inexperience, any small improvement on that scintillating debut would give him a big say in proceedings.

Third in both her races so far this season, ISLAND LIVING is a consistent sort at this level and may have been closer last time with a clearer passage. She was in tight quarters on the rail, which didn’t help, and she could be the answer to another fiendishly hard finale if she can stay out of trouble. DRILL BABY DRILL is another who rarely runs a poor race and her recent fourth, behind Island Living and co on a sloppy track, was a little out of character. She won the time before and will be hard to budge from the board here. TEXAS LEGACY would have a chance on most of her form, even if she hadn’t won last time out, but a repetition of that rallying-from-behind win would give her a major chance.VALERIE VALESKI got bumped around leaving the gate on opening day and weakened tamely when push came to shove. She’s better appraised on any of her previous runs and represents the in-form Rob Maybin barn.