Sunday Round-Up
Amadeo Perez's fine three-timer at Hastings on Sunday was upstaged by an overdose of cute, as a huge pack of Corgi dogs descended on the East Van oval as part of the track's "Dog Days of Summer"
Highlights
Amadeo Perez tightened his grip on the riders’ title with another three-timer
Grant Forster saddles former BC Derby winner Five Star General to win Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs
Four of the day’s seven races at Hastings were bred in B.C.
A hot and humid afternoon as racegoers soaked up the August sunshine and, in addition to being treated to some thrilling racing, were royally entertained by the Corgi dog heats held between races. The track was fast, but fair, with several winners coming from off the pace
Race 1.
The opener on an oppressively warm Sunday afternoon in East Vancouver went to owner/trainer John Snow’s CRYPTO MUNNY, who was given a patient ride by Fraser Aebly at the rear as the others were towed along by Hawaiian Shirt Guys’ tearaway leader, EARS TO US. The front-runner took them three parts of the way, giving jockey Silvino Morales a wild ride in the process for trainer Dino Condilenios (22.20, 45.55). Tod Mountain’s GROOVIN’ IS BAK looked the most likely winner for trainer Edgar Mendoza and rider Amadeo Perez when they grabbed the lead at the top of the stretch. However, as Ears to Us floated out wide on the home turn, Aebly’s path opened up and he took full advantage of the seam aboard Crypto Munny, wearing down Groovin’ is Bak late to win by ¾-length in 1.19.52.
Claims:
GROOVIN’ IS BAK was claimed by owners G. O. Stables and Alexa Ramirez for trainer Erick Gutierrez
Race 2.
Willow Creek Farms and trainer Steve Henson annexed the second race, landing the exacta with TEXAS MOONSHINE and CC SUNRISE. Waited with by Silvino Morales, Texas Moonshine launched his challenge as they began the turn for home and took it up at the top of the lane, drawing away to put 2¼-lengths on C C Sunrise, who kept on gamely under Antonio Reyes to re-pass Jean Lavallee’s weakening DAPPER DON (Jose Gomez). The John Snow-trained DEANARROW also passed Dapper Don late to grab third for owners Triple 8 Racing and rider Fraser Aebly. The winner stopped the clock in 1.48.29 for the mile-and-sixteenth contest.
Race 3.
Praven Sorensen and Mort Hall’s DREAM B, the only filly in the 6½-furlong maiden, was always prominently placed towards the head of affairs by Antonio Reyes and took it up at the top of the lane, having earlier seen off duelling challenger STANFORD NORTH (Silvino Morales). Dream B then stayed on resolutely to hold off a late challenge by BUZZINGA KARMA and Fraser Aebly to win by a neck in 1.19.20 for trainer Barbara Heads. Aebly did well to settle the Carl Lausten-trained Buzzinga Karma after he took quite a tug early and Barry Doud’s three-year-old went down narrowly. Triple 8 Racing’s ANDALEIGH hopped out of the gate and stayed-on late for third under a patient ride by Ridge Balgobin for trainer John Snow.
Race 4.
Canoe Pass Stables’ and trainer Craig MacPherson’s LOGICAL AL justified his odds-on status in the fourth race with the minimum of fuss. Produced with a flourish by Amadeo Perez through a gap on the rail going towards the far turn, the pair never looked back and drew away to a 4½-length win in 1.45.28 for the 8½ furlongs. Julie Balenzano and Susanna Calendino’s ENGLISH BAY TEDDY led them early (24.50, 48.46) and kept to his task well under Brian Boodramsingh finishing a clear second best for trainer Rob VanOverschot. Kent Bird and trainer Dino Condilenios’ BETTER TONE ran his usual solid race, rallying down the straight to finish third.
Race 5.
The fifth went the way of Helen Jewell’s JERSEY’S IMAGE, who was settled in third early by rider Amadeo Perez; the pair content to bide their time behind trailblazing ASKMENOQUESTIONS after he’d scampered into a clear lead under Antonio Reyes (23.48, 48.21). Reyes tried to give his mount a breather along the backstretch but the gas tank looked empty as they began the turn for home and the pair weakened quickly. The Ian Jewell-trained Jersey’s Image kept on going and had 2-lengths to spare over Rob and Sheena Maybin’s SILARONE, who bested Ralph Jesiak’s TUXEDO late in the game under Brian Boodramsingh for trainer Rob VanOvershot, breaking the beam at 1.46.08 for the mile-and-sixteenth course.
Claims:
JERSEYS IMAGE was claimed by Mr & Mrs Harold Barroby for trainer Harold Barroby
Race 6.
Roger Snow’s TIZ THE PROSPECT (Fraser Aebly) and Willow Creek Farms’ NINE OCLOCK CEASER (Jose Gomez) put on a ding-dong duel in the sixth, leading them through splits of 21.97 and 26.01 for the first quarter before fading and setting up a perfect trip for Richard Hunter’s MISS THE HYPE. Kept at the rear and still only fifth turning for home, Miss The Hype closed readily once asked by Amadeo Perez and, despite having to check when beginning his move at the far turn, had too much for fellow closer TAM TRICKY, winning comfortably in 1.19.13 for trainer Edgar Mendoza. The Mel Snow-trained Tiz the Prospect won the duel with Nine Oclock Ceaser but lost the war and finished third.
Race 7.
It was a Henson family affair in the nightcap, with the Robbie Henson-trained RACING RIVER getting the better of dad Steve’s QUAGMIRE after both were left alone on the front end through comfortable fractions of 23.25 and 23.98 for the first quarter. Ridge Balgobin tacked Racing River across from the wide draw to join Fraser Aebly on Quagmire and the two had the race pretty much to themselves. They put on an exciting stretch battle for the fans, with Robbie Henson and Mark and Michelle McGinnis’ Racing River proving his superiority over Lorie Henson, Helen Klimes and Sharon Pring’s Quagmire by a ½-length in 1.17.09. The Patty Leaney-owned-and-trained STAR ENTRY was third for most of the trip and stayed there all the way to the line without threatening the first two home.
Claims:
STAR ENTRY was claimed by owners J G Williamson Racing for trainer Steve Henson
Hastings connections aplenty, as former Glen Todd star ‘General’ lands $150,000 Longacres Mile for Grant Forster
FIVE STAR GENERAL MAKES LONGACRES MILE HISTORY
AUBURN, Wash. (Aug. 13, 2023) – Five Star General made it look easy Sunday at Emerald Downs, powering to the lead on the last turn and rolling to a 1½-length victory over Il Bellator in the 88th renewal of the historic $150,000 Longacres Mile.
The slight 2 to 1 betting choice ridden by Joe Bravo at 124 lbs., Five Star General ran one mile in 1:34.73 and paid $6, $3.60, and $2.60. Saddling his second Longacres Mile winner, Grant Forster is the trainer for owner Ken Alhadeff of Seattle, who Elttaes Stable name and chartreuse silks honor his grandfather, Joe Gottstein, who founded and operated Longacres from 1933 until his death in 1971.
With the victory, Five Star General bagged his first Longacres Mile win in four tries and became the first horse with four consecutive top three Mile finishes, accomplishing the feat with four different trainers.
Ken Alhadeff watched the race from Hawaii and was represented by older brother Michael Alhadeff at Emerald Downs.
“I’m really proud of my brother and this horse,” Michael Alhadeff said. “It’s so special to win the Longacres Mile, it’s a historic race that means a lot to racing and our family.”
Five Star General stalked A Man’s Man, the latter leading through fractions of :22.79 and :45.71. Bravo stepped on the gas around the turn, and Five Star General opened a healthy four-length advantage into the stretch and and held Il Bellator safe to the wire.
“It makes my job easy when (Grant Forster) brings over the best horse,” said Bravo, riding his first mount and winner at Emerald Downs. “My job was easy today.”
A 7-year-old full horse by Distorted Humor, Five Star General has traveled the country this year, racing at four different tracks including a win in the $100,000 Evangeline Downs Mile. His overall record is 10-5-6 in 30 starts with earnings of $602,769. Sunday’s triumph was his first from eight starts at Emerald Downs.
Originally owned by the late Glen Todd, Alhadeff paid $110,000 for Five Star General at the Todd dispersal in May 2022.
Forster, a Vancouver native, won the 2005 Mile with No Giveaway at odds of 60 to 1. Now based in the Midwest, he said winning the Mile is a thrill.
“Growing up in the Northwest, winning the Longacres Mile was the ultimate dream,” Forster said. “I think most importantly, the horse deserves it.”
Il Bellator, owned by Edward and Theresa DeNike of Kent, invaded from Northern California and finished a solid second, earning $30,000 for his efforts. Ridden by Alejandro Gomez at 118 lbs., the runner-up paid $4.80 and $2.60.
Defending champion Slew’s Tiz Whiz rallied belatedly for third, 5 ½ lengths behind the winner, and paid $2.40 to show. Jose Zunino rode Slew’s Tiz Whiz at 124 lbs., for trainer Tom Wenzel and Slew’s Crew Racing. The lone Washington-bred in the race, Slew’s Tiz earned $18,000 and is 7-3-3 from 18 starts with earnings of $240,857.
Rounding out the order of finish were Arma d’Oro. A Man’s Man, Top Executive, Zestful, You’re the Cause, and Exclusive Speaker. Seattle Bold was pulled up on the last turn.
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