Saturday's Previews
Fun for everyone at Hastings on Saturday as the ever-popular weiner dogs return. There's also an intriguing two-year-old contest and a valuable Allowance race for some of BC's best fillies and mares
KAY’S KITCHEN takes a noticeable class drop here and, on paper at least, looks like the one they have to beat. Last seen in June when a lacklustre fifth on a seemingly unsuitable sloppy track, she is better judged on her dead-heat second behind Shamra in May. A repeat of that effort by the lightly-raced 4yo should be enough. TEXAS HUMOR has missed the board just once in four runs this season and won last time. She should be thereabouts again today. This also represents a class drop for JUST MISTY who won her first two starts of the year and then twice finished fourth behind the useful Indyetta. She has to go on the shortlist.
RACINO had today’s rival ANAAMY behind her when second to Arikara on her only start so far this season. She’s had some bad luck, too, and was a late scratch from her most recent run when a horse in an adjacent starting slot became fractious. She’s been working well enough and is certainly up to winning this for her many Hastings Racing Club members. Anaamy, meanwhile, makes her first start for connections after being claimed last time. It’s worth noting that her June win came in sloppy conditions. WALKINTHEWALK has been the model of consistency so far this season with a win, a second and a third. Most recently she was a closing second to Pineapple Tidbits and can’t be left out of the equation.
The betting market should be the best guide to the relative chances of these unraced juveniles. DREAMING D’ORO was a January foal and so has had a few more weeks than her rivals here, although she must also take on boys, which is never easy. She’s been working well and out of an unraced half-sister to a couple of good European Stakes winners. BECKETT’S BEST is out of the former BC Champion juvenile filly Gabogotherway, while RICK’S DANCER is by successful local stallion Lent and out of Another Dance, a half-sister to another former BC Champion 2yo filly in Dancing Allstar; already the dam of a handful of winners. HARTLEY MANOR is also out of an unraced half-sister to two Stakes winners but was a late foal, has an unhelpful post position and should see better days ahead.
A classy collection of fillies and mares line up for this intensly competitive Allowance contest. SHAMRA had REA MEA and WANDALITA behind her when fifth to We B Three in the recent Monashee Handicap Stakes but there seems very little between the trio. Rea Mea hopped at the start last time and then took some restraining by today’s rider Kimal Santo and can be forgiven that effort. She’s also the only runner in the field who has won at the distance. Significantly, leading rider Amadeo Perez goes with PRETTY ARIA, who was last seen running fourth in last month’s Shirley Vargo Handicap at Century Mile. Prior to that she was first or second in her four previous starts.
A repeat of AMANDA’s second to Shamra two starts ago would make her hard to handle here. She’s dropping in class a little and she wasn’t far away on sloppy going last time, either. These also represent marginally shallower waters for NINE OCLOCK CEASER, who impressed many with a comprehensive win on her racing debut in June before trailing in behind Koala and co last time. Like Nine Oclock Ceaser, PENALTY TO RANGERS had Texas Legacy and Lent Me Twenty behind when winning her maiden in June, on what was just a second career outing. Any normal progression on that first run of the season would put her in the mix. TAM TRICKY has won and been second twice in four starts this term and the consistent filly, who has hit the board in 10 of her 14 lifetime starts, is a must for the shortlist.
Owner Peter Redekop’s AN ARMY OF LIGHT makes his Hastings debut and his first appearnce of the season following a three-race sophomore campaign in California. He’s not easy to quantify and may be no world beater, but may not need to be to feature prominently here. MY MAN STAN went down by just a neck to Redekop’s Azov Sea in June, with subsequent winner English Bay Teddy several lengths behind. And, while this represents a marginally tougher task for the sophomore gelding claimed out of Golden Gate Field in March, he’s definitely one for the shortlist. BUZZING KARMA makes his racing debut but he startled the geese in his most recent piece of work and is worthy of consideration.
Amadeo Perez reunites with IRISH LUNA after the pair won last time over today’s distance and with ZETAMARIE and SILK STILETTOS behind. She’s well suited to the distance and should be a major player again today. This is also a rung down on the class ladder for OSTRACIZE whose two wins last season were both over today’s distance. She was beaten a long way by Stay Fantastic last time but this is her third outing of the year and she should be closer in what represents a marginally easier challenge. HARLAN’S ANGEL dips a hoof into deeper waters after narrowly getting the better of Anima last time.
Saturday’s Picks
Statistics
Breakfast With the Horses
ATTENTION: TRAINERS & RIDERS
Sunday, July 30, 2023 | 8:30 – 10:30am
CLOCKER’S CORNER RETURNS!
40-60 PEOPLE WILL BE TRACKSIDE ~ (WOOD PATIO NEAR WINNER’S CIRCLE)
PLEASE INVITE ALL OWNERS & FRIENDS
Morning hosted by HPBA with generous support from Hastings Racecourse and BC Racebook.
Weiner Dogs Return
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Saturday, July 15
