Saturday’s Race Previews
Seven races on Saturday as we enter the claiming waiver period, allowing connections to run qualifying horses without fear of losing them at the claims box
Hastings Race Previews — Saturday September 24
MARTELLO’s second-place finish behind Sir Barclay on his most recent outing gives him a leading chance in this race for horses who have yet to hit the board this season. NOT YET has only appeared once this term but if he could get close to the form that saw him win twice last year he would take a lot of stopping. BOUNDFORJAMAICA began his campaign in far more exalted company than he meets here, but he has dropped through the levels without worrying the judge and it will need to be taken on trust that this is where he belongs.
MAKEITORBREAKIT has been running well enough at a higher grade than this for most of the season to suggest he holds a major chance if he can reproduce almost any of his previous runs this term. VALUE MAX has won two of his last four contests and, if this is a going day, should be involved in the finish. BETTIN’ MAN has flattered to deceive on occasion this term but finally put it all together last time in a welcome boost to his confidence.
This could be tailor made for FORCE TO REKN WITH after three consecutive third-place finishes against useful juvenile opposition, the most recent of which saw her go close despite traffic issues. Newcomer LUCKY FORCE may be at a disadvantage in terms of experience but he must be respected against fillies and worked well enough recently to suggest he has a chance. DANCING WITH LIL was a short-priced favourite when fifth behind Logical Al last time but was the meat in a sandwich early in the race and then got involved in a front-end duel. She’s probably worth another chance.
The always consistent PINEAPPLE TIDBITS seems to have improved since being claimed by current connections earlier in the season and she seems equally adept at the 6 1/2 furlongs. LASTING LIGHT returns to the level at which she beat Harlan’s Angel and Richards Command back in May and she’s another who has performed consistently regardless of the class of opposition. ANIMA is another firm favourite at Hastings and a repetition of her win over You Don’t Own me last time puts her on the shortlist.
Hard to see REMARKABLE ANGEL not joining death and taxes on the list of life’s certainties here after an excellent fourth place finish behind subsequent BC Oaks heroine Kloepatra in last month’s Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes. Any repeat close to that should be enough. The consistent SHOWMAN may be the biggest danger to favourite backers, while the lightly-raced TEXAS LEGACY is slowly progressing and can’t be left out of the equation.
BODEGA was victorious in deeper waters than this back in May, has run creditably in the interim and can go close on his first time mixing it with Hastings’ $4,000 claiming brigade. LUCKY LUKE has already won twice at Hastings since transferring in from Woodbine and his length defeat by You Don’t Own Me and Bellaroo last time gives him solid claims. MCMURPHY returns to 6 1/2 furlongs for the first time since finishing third behind Chase the Sun and Prince Cairo at a higher level than he faces here.
OSTRACIZE finally got a chance to stretch his legs over the 8 1/2-furlong course last time and notched his first win after going close on several occasions since arriving from Woodbine. He should go close again today. There’s little between MY COLLEGE FUND and JUST MAKE BELIEVE and both need to go on the shortlist here, while SLEW’S DA BOSS had the former behind him when they met back in June and could easily confirm that superiority.
