Sunbird Flies at Century Mile
Amadeo Perez rides a double at Hastings on another cloudless afternoon, as the Terry Jordan-trained Sunbird makes a winning reappearance at Century Mile and remains on target for a Triple Crown tilt!
HIGHLIGHTS
Amadeo Perez booted home three winners
The Pick 5 was not hit so there is a carryover of $3,339
The handle was $563,051
Six of the day’s seven winners were Canadian-bred
Terry Jordan saddled a Hastings-Century Mile cross-card double
Another glorious afternoon at the track with shirtsleeves once more the order of the day. A breeze helped keep temperatures manageable for both horses and people, while the track was understandably fast all day.
Race 1.
The first on the Saturday card went to Swift Thoroughbreds’ LICORICE ($3.60) who tracked the speed under Amadeo Perez, started to creep up nearing the quarter-pole and drew off in the stretch to win easily for trainer Dino Condilenios in 1:18.51. Rob VanOverschot and Terrell Redekop's QUEENS OVER JACK'S was very good in her debut, rallying from just off the pace to be a clear second. Jamie Demetrick's SWANGIN set a sensible pace of 22.95 and 46.52 with Antonio Reyes up but couldn’t stay with her stablemate and held third.
Race 2.
The second was won by Don Danard and Mel Snow's ROSE OF TEXAS ($9.90), who showed good speed for the first time and secured a spot on the lead under Jose Sanchez. They led through fractions of 23.26 and 46.53 then snuck away on the final turn, building up big lead and winning easily in 1:18.52 for trainer Mel Snow. Don Danard and Mel Snow's DRILL BABY DRILL completed the barn Exactor, closing in between runners in the stretch to get second. Jordan Froelich's GWEN raced on the slow pace but was always a neck behind and although losing more ground at the far turn, battled gamely to just miss second and ended up third.
Race 3.
The third saw WYN Racing Stables’ FAMILY BIZ ($9.20) fire a big move from last to first with Kimal Santo at the controls taking full advantage of a contested pace, winning in 1:44.67 for trainer Larry Grieve. Willow Creek Farms’ LAUGH WITH ME battled on the pace through splits of 24.02, 47.94 and 1:12.49 and stayed game in the lane, finishing a solid second. Willow Creek’s other runner MY COLLEGE FUND sat in a perfect spot behind the pace, then rallied on the stretch turn to be in contention and barely lost the photo for second, ending up an unlucky third.
Claims:
PARKER POINT was claimed by ownewr Richard J Hunter for trainer Edgar Mendoza
Race 4.
The fourth was won by another great ride by Amadeo Perez aboard Lorie Henson and Helen Klimes’ QUEEN OF ATTITUDE ($6.90), who came from last and split horses in mid-stretch, earning her second win of the year for trainer Steve Henson. G.O. Stables’ KOALA was forced to go through some quick and contested fractions of 22.25 and 45.22, took the field to the sixteenth pole but yielded late to finish second. Russ and Lois Bennett's VIVA LA VINO was settled in behind the speed, went three wide on the stretch turn and four wide into the lane which cost her as she ended up a close third.
Race 5.
The fifth went to Roy and Dixie Jacobson’s COUNTRY COWBOY ($9.10) who spent most of the trip in the three path and ground out a victory with Amadeo Perez at the helm for trainer Mark Cloutier in 1:18.31. BFA Holdings’ WISE MARKET ran another good one but got rolling a little too late, ending up a fast-closing second. Stan Sharma's VALUABLE COWBOY set a tepid pace of 22.84 and 46.18 and ran on well through the stretch but couldn’t last on the lead as the heavy favourite and ended up third.
Claims:
COUNTRY COWBOY was claimed by owners Joe and Gloria Russo for trainer Patty Leaney
STAR ENTRY was claimed by owner/trainer Patty Leaney
Race 6.
The sixth of the afternoon was a competitive maiden event won by Maureen Byrne's STRIKING VALUE ($6.90) who made a mess of the start, spotting the field seven or eight lengths, then struck trouble while rolling up the rail on the backside. She eventually found room late to win by a desperate nose under Fraser Aebly for trainer Frank Barroby in 1:49.92. Willow Creek Farms’ MOUNT LOKI was well positioned by Antonio Reyes behind the pace (24.05, 48.53 and 1:15.23) angled out turning home and just missed in another exciting finish. Warren Wilson, Neil Stajkowski, June Sutherland, Ross Switzer and Barry Hickman's HARBOUR STORM made a long sustained run on the outside on the backstretch and led the field into the lane but got a little tired and ended up a good third.
Race 7.
The last of the day saw James Redekop and Stefan Ferrario's BROKE AN BROKEN ($10.10) get up in deep stretch to win for trainer Terry Jordan. Antonio Reyes sent the son of Broken Vow to the lead early, opted to drift back passing the stands for the first time, then struck trouble on the rail and had to wait for room until the eighth pole where he exploded and ran on to victory. Jordan Froelich's MR. QUALITY was put on the lead by Amadeo Perez through comfortable fractions of 24.36, 48.72 and 1:13.51 and stayed on gamely to win the runner-up photo a nose ahead of Roy and Dixie Jacobson’s MAKEITORBREAKIT who was excellent in his first try going long his year, battling on the pace throughout.
Claims:
MR QUALITY was claimed by owners Rob and Sheena Maybin for trainer Rob Maybin
Sunbird Wins Century Mile Allowance
The Terry Jordan-trained SUNBIRD (Orb), close to the best juvenile at Hastings last season, made his eagerly-anticipated seasonal debut a winning one when landing a six-furlong Allowance event at Century Mile on Saturday. The 3yo, who was bred by the late Glen Todd, jumped smartly under former Hastings-based reinsman Enrique Gonzales and was at the sharp end for the entire race. Four O Six Creed made SUNBIRD work for the win but he was never in any real danger of losing. Owned by Pauline Felicella and the estate of the late Nick Felicella, SUNBIRD is reportedly being aimed at the $125,000 Manitoba Derby which, this year, is also the first leg of the Western Canadian Triple Crown series that carries a $100,000 bonus for any horse winning all three legs: the Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia on August 7; the Canadian Derby (G3) at Century Mile on August 26 and the BC Derby (G3) at Hastings on September 16.
“Burger and Bevvy” Fundraiser
Please come out and show your support for this very worthy cause started many years ago by Hastings’ very own Jeannie Spence as a way to provide a bit of immediate relief for those in our Hastings family when they need it the most. Many have benefited from the fund over the years and we need your support to be able to continue to provide that much needed help. So come out and spend an evening away from the track and have some fun! Please feel free to tell all your friends. The more the merrier — Lisa Russel
New Stride News
Racing resumes at Hastiungs on Sunday, July 9th, with a seven race program starting at 2:00 p.m
 |
|