Six Set for Tuesday Test
Smart Lad faces tough opposition in Tuesday's valuable feature Allowance race, as Hastings hosts seven competitive heats with plenty of runners
Sloop John B has performed solidly all season and had Better Tone and Hanky Pranky off his stern when chasing home Visenya over this distance last month. HOwever, there may be some value in COUNTRY COWBOY, who takes a second tilt at the 8½ furlongs after finishing in the scrum just behind Better Tone and subsequent Canadian Derby third Regal Riot in July’s Chris Loseth Stakes. Florida Gator, meanwhile, got trapped out wide in a muddling affair last time and may be closer today.
ARTISIC JEWLER put it together in style last time when dropped in class, winning by almost seven 7 lengths. This is a tougher spot, but not by much, and she can follow up here. Ostracize has been splendidly consistent since being brought in from Ontario despite not wining and this represents her best chance to-date. Ourevelady renews partnership with Scott Williams and the pair will be looking to repeat their winning effort of two starts ago, while Pineapple Tidbits goes for a third consecutive win.
SMART LAD has been banging his head against some tough nuts this season and this represents his best opportunity since opening day. It takes no little talent to win on debut and Viva La Vino caught plenty of eyes when breaking her maiden at the first time of asking. This is obviously tougher but she must be respected. Whiskey Talk didn’t reappear this season until July but hasn’t put a foot wrong in his two races so far and is a real threat.
A perplexing maiden. VALUE DANCER’s second-place finish last time puts her firmly in the picture here as she makes her first start for new connections since being claimed. A first win surely can’t be far away. The same goes for Showman, who found just one too good in each of three previous starts and a win here would not be out of turn. Texas Legacy had traffic issues last time and may well be closer today, while the lightly-raced pair Rollie’s Spirit and Indygogold wouldn’t need to improve much to play a hand in the finish.
FLORAL has missed the board just once in five starts this term and all in far deeper waters than she faces here. A repeat of her fourth behind Rea Mea last time may be enough to get the job done. Richard’s Command may be the main beneficiary of the race set-up, with several frontrunners in the field likely to ensure a good pace. Anothersunnyday returns to the level she won convincingly at two starts ago, while Lasting Light is another consistent sort and can’t be ignored.
The inexperienced BAKALLEY may appreciate the addition of blinkers today and he can improve again after a solid third behind Viva La Vino last time. Shaprpzan, who was runner-up in all three of his starts to-date, would need to progress only marginally to play a leading role, while the hard-to-weigh-up Abrierwin is having just his second Hasting start after unsuccessful efforts at Emerald Downs and Oaklawn Park. He’ll need to improve, but possibly not by much.
It’s dart time in the finale, with any of these perfectly capable of winning at this level on their day. BELLAROO has won three times already this season and was twice second and once third in the other three. She should be thereabouts again. You Don’t Own Me’s second to Anima (with Sword Fighter behind) puts him firmly in the mix, while Racing River’s second-place finish to Tiz Meow three starts ago (with You Don’t Own Me behind) would give him a leading chance if reproduced here.
Mike and Drew’s Derby Bar and Grill Picks, Tuesday August 30
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