Hard-working outrider ponies relax between races, grateful for the cooling mist from a well-positioned fan — photo Matt Elder
HIGHLIGHTS:
Cindy Krasner saddled the winner of the first and closed out the card with another giving her a training double on the day.
The Pick 5 and Pick 6 were both there for the taking and no one picked all winners in either sequence so there will be a carryover in the Pick 5 of $28,451 and the Pick 6 is at $21,614.
The handle was $419,114.
Cerapio Figueroa went to hospital for precautionary measures after being unseated away from the gate in race five. I talked to him prior to leaving and he was fine but complaining of some rib pain.
Summer finally arrived, bringing out plenty of racegoers to bask in the hot sunshine under cloudless skies. Unsurprisingly, the track remained fast all afternoon.
The first of the day went to Denny Spence’s THE KAT'S BACK who sat a perfect trip under Efrain Hernandez behind a pace duel (22.64, 45.98) then shifted off the rail turning for home and cruised to an easy win in a good time of 1:17.80 for trainer Cindy Krasner. Larry Potozny's OUREVELADY was far back early and rallied belatedly up the inside to be second. The Hastings Horsepower and Minnaloushe Stables LASTING LIGHT was off a heartbeat slow and scooted up the rail to gain command but was pressured throughout which cost her and she ended up getting caught late and ran third.
THE KAT’S BACK (Efrain Hernandez) — photo Patti Tubbs
Race 2.
The second of the afternoon was won by the Milburn Legacy's ARCH PRINCE who settled nicely off of a contested pace under Learie Seecharan then started to creep up on the backstretch in the three path and outran the speed to the wire in a quick 1:44.02. Russ and Lois Bennett's BLACK METAL was away well and battled through demanding fractions of 23.32, 46.94 and 1:12.35 and did well to be second. Warren Wilson, Neil Stajkowski, June Sutherland, Ross Switzer and Barry Hickman's PAY MY WAY closed up nicely through the lane and just missed second and has to settle for third.
ARCH PRINCE (Learie Seecharan) - photo Patti Tubbs
Race 3.
The third race went to the Rockfield Farm’s TIMELESS SHRUG ($33.90) who was brilliantly ridden by Kerron Khelawan as he held the inside through a very slow pace of 25.53, 50.81 and 1:16.59 and out-gamed her rivals to win in 1:47.54 for trainer Luis Magalhaes. Roger and Mel Snow's HEART OF TEXAS broke alertly and was content to settle just off the rail and when the running started at the quarter pole she sprinted for home but couldn’t quite get the better of TIMELESS SHRUG in the stretch. Don Musgrove and Lyle Johnson's PINEAPPLE TIDBITS was held far back off of the slow pace and made a good three wide run to make things interesting but ended up an unlucky third.
The fourth was won by the Nite and Day Stable and Joanne Todd's HE'S RELENTLESS who narrowly ran by the pacesetter to win under Amadeo Perez for trainer Brian O'Connell in 1:44.38. Francis Tucker and Brian Albertson’s STEAL HOME changed running styles and was let run to the lead which almost proved to be a winning move as he ran tough on the head end through fractions of 24.34, 47.58 and 1:12.11 and when he seemed to be beaten by HE'S RELENTLESS he rallied back on the inside to make things very close at the wire. Josh McNeil's ONE FIFTY ONE took his usual spot off the pace when the gates were sprung and was traveling well then when asked for his best he responded nicely and finished a solid third.
The fifth of the card went to Bryan and Carol Anderson's RIMFIRE ($9.00) who broke far better today and set the pace with JOSE JOSE and those two raced in unison through splits of 22.76 and 46.28 then the homebred son of Violence started to inch away when it counted to claim the victory in 1:18.05 for trainer Barbara Heads. Joy Cameron’s JOSE JOSE was very game throughout and ran a much improved race and stayed on for second with Efrain Hernandez at the controls for trainer Rob Gilker. The Ironside Stables REMARKABLE ANGEL was off a tad slow then rushed up into contention approaching the first turn and raced in the three path throughout and showed a lot of tenacity being the lone filly in the race under Amadeo Perez hanging in there to be third beaten by less than two lengths for it all.
RYAN DEYOTTE: “What a great day to have a memorial race for the old man today. Pat Jarvis did an awesome job on the blanket and it was great to have Sylvia Deyotte Ron Deyotte Judi Tweedie there to share in the moment. Was thrilled that Barbara Anderson-Heads won the race and graciously gave us back the blanket. Thanks to Bailey Williams for letting me say a few words in the paddock.”
The sixth event was won by the Willow Creek Farms NOTHINGBUTSUNSHINE who was well prepared by conditioner Steve Henson in her debut breaking well and rode the rail to victory under Lenny Seecharan who replaced the injured Cerapio Figueroa to win in 1:18.62. The Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds QUALITY COMMAND went off as the heavy choice and made the lead comfortably (22.71, 47.17) and seemed to get a little lost on the stretch turn and gave her rival a big lead turning for home and ended up re-rallying in the lane but had to settle for the runner-up prize. Don Danard and Mel Snow's DRILL BABY DRILL had a nice trip under apprentice Kimal Santo racing up close to the sensible fractions and ran on well to be third.
The last of the day went to Cindy Krasner's first time starter FLICKER OF GOLD who was another that was expertly prepared for her career debut settling in the third spot early behind the speed under Scott Williams then produced a swift final move to get the money in 1:19.35. George Gilbert's SOUTHERN LASS settled off the flank of the pace setting SAVER THE KISS through interior splits of 22.64 and 47.01 and got the better of that opponent but couldn’t hold off the oncoming FLICKER OF GOLD and ended up a good second. Kent Bird and Dino Condilenios’ SAVER THE KISS took a big class plunge and was sent off to the lead and ran gamely to the finish to end up third.
The backstretch family is in mourning this weekend after losing another popular friend and colleague. Trainer Julie Wicks recently succumbed to cancer after a brave and long fight. Julie’s passing will be felt keenly among the close Hastings community and we would like to extend our sincerest condolences to all of her friends and family — photo Matt Elder
Racing resumes Sunday with a seven-race program. First race 2:00 p.m.
