Saturday's Runners and Riders
Here's a look at the seven competitive-looking races for day two of the Hastings season. We'll look at Sunday's program tomorrow
The 4-y-o Y Vee R, a half-brother to last weekend’s winner Flyunderthegraydar, has a work tab machine-gunned with bullets, while the Heads-trained duo Showman and A Tree of Life both ran solid end-of-season events as juveniles and could be worth following going forward. DR BENNEY makes his fourth start of ’22 and may have a fitness advantage. The three-year-old comes to Hastings from Fair Grounds, where he was claimed by connections as part of the generous Fresh Horse Program.
Fitness may again prove the difference here with VALERIE VALESKI making her third start of the season. She joins the Condilenios barn from Louisiana as part of the Fresh Horse Program after being plucked from a claimer by owner Jordan Froelich. Gifted Grey makes a first appearance since 2020 and is entitled to need the race, while Racino makes her debut in the blue and white stripes of the Hastings Racing Club. Twice a winner in 2021 and always on the board, Bakfire Baby has been working well, while The Kat’s Back has a similar profile and can’t be excluded.
Trainer Barb Heads, who saddles three of the five runners, appears to hold the key to this highly-anticipated contest featuring three of last season’s very best fillies and mares. However, although a four-time Stakes winner in 2021, the remarkable Infinite Patience did lose out on her six-furlong debut last term and she may be seen to better advantage as distances increase. BAYAKOA’S IMAGE should not be unduly troubled by the six furlongs, having won on her debut at the trip last season prior to an amazing campaign. Fellow Horse-of-the-Year nominee Heidi should also have a say in where this $28,000 purse is distributed in this eagerly anticipated heavyweight clash.
Another highly-competitive heat for $4k claimers that could easily be won by any of these. After his win at this level in July, You Don’t Own me spent the second half of the season holding his own in marginally deeper waters and has the benefit of a run already this term. The Chances R won twice and hit the board five more times in 2021, while the Steve Henson-trained LAUGH WITH ME has been working solidly, won three times at this level last year and only once failed to make the frame from 10 starts.
Always a Knight makes a quick turnaround and isn’t without a chance here, following a perfectly acceptable fifth-place finish behind Bluegrass Angus last weekend. Little Groot finished second to European on his seasonal debut over 6f last season and demands respect, while WISE MARKET makes his debut for trainer Mark Cloutier after being claimed last July. Tiz Meow, a three-time sprint winner in 2021, looks best of the rest.
Steal Home, Bodega and Don With the Wind line-up here after already running this season at Turf Paradise. The trio may hold a fitness advantage over the local team, although whether that proves a decisive advantage remains to be seen and PAY MY WAY might just be a little classier than some of these. The Charlene Miller-trained Commissioner gelding made his final appearance of the 2021 season in the Canadian Derby at Century Mile and this represents a return to a level at which he has already won.
The five-year-old Ave’s In Command is the youngster in the field and your morning line favourite. His win last September certainly puts him at the forefront of those with realistic chances, but he will not have things all his own way. The veteran European runs well when fresh, as demonstrated when he landed a similar contest on his seasonal debut last year over today’s distance. THE ALL BUTTON won three times last year when dropped into the bottom level and ran perfectly well against marginally better opposition the rest of the time.