Sunday's Previews
Six are slated to go to post for Sunday's feature, which includes a mouthwatering rematch between Stay Fantastic and Shotgun Rider
LENT ME TWENTY has bumped into a couple of smart ones in both her starts this term and may find this a marginally less onerous task. TEXAS LEGACY finished just ahead of Lent Me Twenty last time, but she’s a 5yo maiden and this is her ninth shot at winning a maiden. PENALTY TO RANGERS isn’t easy to weigh up but she made a solid start to her racing career when fourth on her only start so far. She’s been out of action since August but has been working solidly.
Bettors will need the trusty dart here, with any of these fully capable of winning this contest. Both FOOT SOLDIER and JUVEE TOO are ultra-consistent sorts who rarely let anyone down, while a repeat of the equally reliable WISE MARKET’s 2-length win over Quagmire puts him at the heart of affairs. BABY GRAND returns to the short track after fading late over 8½ furlongs last time and had DRILLER behind him earlier this month when they both chased home Slew’s Da Boss. A repeat of that run makes both live shots.
PADDY D’ORO had GORKY PARK behind him last time (until the stewards got involved) and the consistent veteran has managed three wins over this distance. This is his third run of the season and he should be thereabouts. CALAMAZEUS left his first start of the season behind, when fourth behind Foot Soldier last time, and he should relish the extra distance.
ANAAMY has failed to hit the board just three times in 14 starts and it would be minor shock if she fails to do so again here. KANDY KATIE ran a bit of a clunker last time, although she was bumped around a little early. A repeat of either of her two previous runs, however, and she’ll go very close. ANOTHERSUNNYDAY had ARIKARA behind her when a neck second to Irish Luna on opening day and wasn’t too far behind Pineapple Tidbits when a rallying fourth earlier this month.
ERLICH makes his season debut here and hasn’t run since winning last September. However, he looks the class of the race, has had plenty of morning work and if he can repeat that final run of 2022 should go very close. SLOOP JOHN B has improved with each of his three runs this season and his second-place finish behind Broke an Broken, over today’s distance, served notice that he should soon be winning. TRAPALIS wasn’t too far behind Sloop John B last time and is another with winning form at this distance and can figure in the finish.
SHOTGUN RIDER has adapted brilliantly to the Hastings track since arriving from Turf Paradise; winning last month and then going down by just a neck to today’s rival STAY FANTASTIC last time. It could be close again. Finishing just behind that day was FAMILY BIZ and he’s another who has slotted right in after arriving from Arizona over the spring and has to go on the shortlist.
A typically tough finale that could go the way of pretty much any of these. SILARONE had several of today’s rivals behind him when chasing home Rollie’s Spirit last time, with ATOMIC HAZE the closest. Woodbine import SETTEBELLO, meanwhile, beat Milo’s Command on just his second Hastings’ appearance and a repeat of that makes him a serious contender. Value hunters might have a look at the lightly-raced THERE GOES MY HERO. The barn’s in excellent form and, although the wide draw is less than helpful, he has improved with each of his three runs.
Sunday’s Picks
New Stride News
Randy Goulding in the Province
Jockey Perez and trainer Condilenios having great seasons
Top jockey Amadeo Perez and leading trainer Dino Condilenios (above) are having great seasons at the Hastings Racecourse horse-racing track.
The live racing season at Hastings Racecourse feels like it just started, but it doesn’t seem too early to hand over the trophy for leading jockey to Amadeo Perez.
After all, he’s had his picture taken in the winner’s enclosure 36 times and has a commanding lead over Silvino Morales who sits second in the standings with 16 wins.
The trainer’s race is a lot closer with Dino Condilenios leading the way with 12 victories. Tied for second with eight wins apiece are last year’s leading trainer Edgar Mendoza, and Steve Henson and Barbara Heads.
Condilenios was the leading trainer at Hastings in 2003 and 2005, and since 1995 has won 534 races at the track. Since then, only Canadian Hall-of-Famer Harold Barroby, 598, and Heads, 560, have won more races at the Vancouver oval.
“It’s been a good start,” said Condilenios, who won nine races at Hastings last year. “It helps to have horses with the right conditions. Our horses were running well last year, but just not getting there. We ended up with a lot of seconds and thirds. The seconds and thirds are turning into wins this year. It’s a lot more fun when that happens.”
Canada Day 2023
Lots of fun on the agenda for Canada Day, including a best-dressed competition and a guaranteed $20,000 PIck 4!
Canada Day will also feature the 2023 edition of Groom Appreciatin Day hosted once more by trainer Barbara Anderson-Heads in the name of the Anderson familt that has been so succesful down the years. Winning grooms, selected by random draw prior to each race, will receive prizes in recognition of the essential part they play in ensuring we can race at Hastings.
