Sunday's Previews
After Saturday's Cup hullabaloo, Hastings returns to the racing fans on Sunday with seven more competitive puzzles to solve
IMA DAREDEVIL flew late and got up at the wire last time to win by a nose. This represents a small drop in class, although she also won at this level back in May, and she’s a ‘must’ for the shortlist. ARIKARA had Racino and subsequent winner Anaamy behind when justifying favouritism last time in a race that has a solid look about it. PINEAPPLE TIDBITS won five times in 2022 and is already off the mark this season. She returns to the 6½ furlongs today after a solid fourth over the long course last time and, if she puts in a performance even close to her usual standard, she’ll be a serious threat.
DRILLER drops a half rung on the class ladder here and looks well equipped to handle his opponents. He’s been no further back than fourth in seven of his previous ten outings and was less than two lengths behind winner Country Cowboy last time, despite not hitting the board. He should be thereabouts again today. QUAGMIRE had RING OF KERRY behind last time when running Racing River to a neck. A three-time winner last season, it surely won’t be long before Quagmire adds to his tally. A similar sentiment applies to KNOPFLER who’s had the winner’s circle surrounded this year without quite doing enough to enter. He certainly wouldn’t be winning out of turn.
QUEEN OF ATTITUDE is a galloping example of the old chestnut that it’s not how you start, but how you finish that’s important. A perennial slow starter, she’s usually doing all her best work late and there was a lot to like about her win over today’s rival KOALA when they clashed two weeks ago. Koala had won both her starts prior to that defeat and there’s very little between the two. ICE BREAKER returns to the sprint distance after a disappointing effort over the long course last time and a repeat of her third to Queen of Attitude in June puts her firmly in the mix.
FOREIGN PROTOCOL has bumped into some smart sprinters in his three runs since arriving from California in the spring and, while this is another competitive heat, it’s probably not quite as deep a field as any he has so far encountered north of the 49th parallel. Another California import, TIZ VICIOUS has adapted brilliantly to the demands of the East Van Oval and has finished first or second in each of his four races this season. FINDING WAYS has hit the board in 12 of his 19 starts and makes his first appearance for new connections since being claimed. He finished some way behind Tiz Vicious earlier this month but won both starts prior to that and is better judged on those.
Woodbine import BROKE AN BROKEN has adapted well to Hastings and goes for his hat-trick here after landing his previous two starts (both over today’s distance). This represents a small step up in class on his most recent win, but he’s been cleverly handled by connections and may not be done yet. FAMILY BIZ had today’s rivals LAUGH WITH ME and MY COLLEGE FUND behind when winning last time out and a repeat performance would put him squarely in the frame again. This is tougher company than MAKEITORBREAKIT has encountered for a while but he’s been the model of consistency this term and shouldn’t be ignored.
A quality line-up for this feature Allowance contest and it will be fascinating to see how FANNY BAY ALI goes ‘at home’ following two excellent starts at Emerald Downs this season. She’s had some starting-gate kinks to iron out but is clearly a classy filly. She should go close, as long as she doesn’t flub the start. FREESTYLE had Fanny Bay Ali and ARUNDEL CASTLE behind her when winning in May but then blotted her copybook in sloppy conditions in the River Rock Casino Stakes. That effort is probably best ignored. INDYETTA, meanwhile, is on a four-timer here, although all three wins came against marginally less demanding opposition. She did face BUNNY, LICORICE and Freestyle in May, but finished fourth. MATSQUI was doing all her best work late when fourth to Air Force in the Supernaturel Stakes earlier this month and is probably a little classier than her bare figures suggest. ABOVE AVERAGE has given the excellent Air Force plenty to think about twice this season and that form represents just about the best there is at Hastings – although her only previous start at this distance, as a juvenile, didn’t go so well.
The wide draw is a disadvantage, but DEPUTY’S DANCER has solid form this season. His win earlier this month came in marginally deeper waters than he encounters here and, prior to that, he was second to Country Cowboy and Barney Google. Hard not to see him being involved in the finish again. Another tough and consistent performer, RACING RIVER goes for a second consecutive win after besting Quagmire and Ring of Kerry earlier this month and has to go on the shortlist. WISE MARKET had VALUABLE COWBOY just a length behind when they met three weeks ago and there is little between them. There are quite a few pacesetters in the line-up and, if there is any mutual throat-cutting up front, MORETHANSOULTITLE could be the main beneficiary.
Don’t Forget!
Force Prevails for VanOverschot
Another good night for BC connections in Alberta as recent Supernaturel Stakes third, FORCE TO REKN WITH, took down the $50,000 Sonoma Handicap at Century Mile. The 3yo daughter of Canada’s leading second-crop sire Counterforce was ridden positively by Brian Boodramsingh, taking the initiative early and seeing off allcomers to land the spoils for JDP Holdings and trainer Robert VanOverschot. Connections endured a lengthy and nail-biting stewards’ inquiry before finally getting the all clear.
Friday night’s other Stakes event at Century Mile, the $50,000 RK (Red) Smith Handicap, went to the former Hastings runner FLORAL. The 6yo mare, who was a former winner of the Supernaturel Stakes when trained by Craig MacPherson, was bred in BC by Canyon Farms. The daughter of Bakken was landing her second valuable Stakes contest of the season after winning last month’s $50,000 RedTail Landing Handicap.
