Summer in the City
A perfect summer's evening at Hastings saw leading trainer Steve Henson add two more to the win column while rider Kerron Khelawan continued his good run of form with another double
HIGHLIGHTS
Kerron Khelawan had a riding double
Steve Henson added two more training wins
The handle was $515,156
The Pick 5 paid a generous $4,985.70 for a $1 wager
Summer started right on schedule this week and Friday evening was just about perfect conditions for racing as a hot day gave way to a balmy and still evening. The track remained fast and fair throughout.
Race 1.
The first race on a beautiful Friday evening saw Peter Redekop's CLASS CODE ($5.40) make her Hastings debut a winning one. Amadeo Perez gave her a perfect ride and she did the rest, winning comfortably in 1:44.96 for trainer Barbara Heads. Dennis Dale, Tabitha Perry, Sheryle Benson, Paul Cashman and K D Rycroft Racing Stables’ WANDALITA had a tough trip, racing three and four wide throughout much of the journey, but still managed to be a clear second under Kimal Santo for trainer Nicole Rycroft. Willow Creek Farm's HOAX set a lively pace with Antonio Reyes aboard (23.45, 47.11, 1:12.35) and couldn’t stay with the top two, but held third for trainer Steve Henson.
Race 2.
The second of the night went to Willow Creek Farm's LUCKY COWBOY ($4.80), who elected to shift off the rail early and sit in the two path under Antonio Reyes tracking the speed before inching away late in a good time of 1:17.42 for conditioner Steve Henson. Don Musgrove and Stewart Spencer's ASKMENOQUESTIONS set a sensible pace under Amadeo Perez (22.76, 46.72), continued to battle to the stretch but relinquished the lead inside the sixteenth pole and finished a solid runner-up for trainer Keith Pedersen. Star Lot Stables DON W had a good trip in behind the speed with Kimal Santo at the helm but couldn’t make up any ground in the final stages and checked in third for Terry Jordan.
Claims:
ASKMENOQUESTIONS was claimed by owners Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds for trainer Edgar Mendoza
Race 3.
The third was won by Nicole Droder's FAMILY BIZ ($4.70), who was void of early speed under Kerron Khelawan as the pair sat off blistering fractions (23.22, 46.60 and 1:11.71) before flying late and getting up near the wire for the victory for trainer Craig MacPherson. Georges and Terry Georgeopoulos’ FORT LANGLEY settled off the pace with Antonio Reyes aboard, then made a quick move on the backstretch to gain command but got a little tired late and finished a good second for trainer Dino Condilenios. Willow Creek Farm's MY COLLEGE FUND was off slow from the gate under Silvino Morales, then raced three-wide throughout much of the trip and did well to be third for trainer Steve Henson.
Claims:
BROOKYS TAPIT was claimed by owners Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds for trainer Edgar Mendoza
Race 4.
The fourth of the night was won by Julie Balenzano and Susanna Calendino's ENGLISH BAY TEDDY ($6.60) who was given an excellent ride by Brian Boodramsingh, sitting relaxed on the outside of a quick pace (22.45, 45.23) then edging clear in the late going to win in 1:16.73 for trainer Rob VanOverschot. Rob and Sheena Maybin's EYE BE SEEING YOU was given a nice ride by Chris Mamdeen, tracking the quick tempo and was travelling well late but ran out of real estate and had to settle for second. Minnaloushe Stables and Dave Milburn's BABY GRAND was sent off to the front by Learie Seecharan and they held the lead gamely until midstretch and ended up a close third in a big effort for conditioner Dave Milburn.
Race 5.
The fifth race of the day saw Dave Milburn's BUTTONWOOD TREE ($27.50) march through well rationed fractions (24.14, 48.50, 1:13.08) by Kuri Powell, then sprint home to an impressive victory in 1:43.89 for trainer Dave Milburn. Willow Creek Farm's NEIGHBOR was away well under Antonio Reyes and was well held just off of the moderate pace and ran-on well to be a clear second for trainer Steve Henson. Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds’ STAY FANTASTIC was pocketed behind the pace with Amadeo Perez and was unable to make ground on the front runners and checked in third for trainer Edgar Mendoza.
Race 6.
The sixth of the night went to Willow Creek Farms and Fabio Chiesa’s FRANKIE MACHINE ($7.80) who watched a contested pace (24.46, 48.10, 1:13.04) unfold in front of him with Kerron Khelawan at the controls before tipping out four-wide at the top of the stretch, proving best late in 1:45.40 for trainer Steve Henson. Jordan Froelich's READY HERO was promoted to second after being impeded on the rail with Silvino Morales at the top of the stretch and stewards ruled that he was cost a chance of a better placing and was moved from third to second for trainer Dino Condilenios. Gabriele Mathussek’s PADDY D'ORO was in a perfect striking position under Brian Boodramsingh then made saw an opening nearing the eighth-pole and shot through to get the lead but was caught late finishing second for conditioner Carl Lausten and subsequently moved back to third after the DQ for interference at the top of the stretch.
Claims:
GOOD BYE PUTIN was claimed by owners Jordan Froelich and Ryan Deyotte for trainer Nicole Rycroft
Century Mile Stakes Races
Hastings’ trainers drew a blank at Century Mile on Friday night as both of the evening’s Stakes contests went to local teams. SILENT RUNNER caused something of an upset in the seven-furlong $50,000 Spangled Jimmy Handicap for trainer Tom Rycroft and owners Dennis Dale, Ed Welsh and Ton Rycroft. The five-year-old gelding by Silent Name was close to the pace throughout under Rafael Zenteno Jr. before striking the front at the three-sixteenth pole and was driven out to hold off the late surge of warm favourite and former Canadian Derby winner GREAT ESCAPE by 1 3/4-lengths. Horses familiar to Hastings racegoers did not fare well. SIR BREGOVIC, former Canadian Derby winner UNCHARACTERISTIC and multiple Stakes-winning BC-bred ASYOUBELIEVE finished fifth, sixth and seventh respectively, while former BC Derby hero REGAL RIOT was pulled up at the rear.
Earlier in the evening, the five-year-old mare MISSCZECH (Cairo Prince) followed up on last month’s RedTail Landing Stakes by landing the $50,000 Shirley Vargo Handicap for trainer Gonzalo Anderson and owner Kirk Sutherland. Tracking the leader PRETTY ARIA three wide under Dane Nelson, she was driven out to hold BIG HUG by 3/4-length. Former Hastings protagonists PRETTY ARIA and FORCE TO REKN WITH were unplaced.
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Saturday, June 22
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