Sunday's Runners and Riders
Day two of this weekend's racing at Hastings includes the Kathy O'Connell Memorial Allowance, featuring some of the best colts and geldings of last season
Von Dom will have plenty of support in this typically tricky opener. The 4yo gelding was claimed at Fair Grounds in March and is already making his fourth start of the season. One of three runners for trainer Robert Maybin, The Valentine Kid may find six on the sharp side first time out, although he has been working well and is a consistent sort. The consistent label also applies to Maybin’s third runner, EYE BE SEEING YOU who won twice last year and hit the board more often than not in his 10 starts.
Three of the five here are new horses to Hastings and it will be fascinating to see which of them adapts best to the peculiar demands of the East Van oval. Lucky Luke and Knopfler both plied their trade consistently at Woodbine last season and should be able to compete at this level without too many problems. MR QUALITY, the third import in the race, has solid form against more talented horses than he faces here, although the distance may not suit as much as the company. Foot Soldier makes most appeal of the local duo.
Bettin Man, B C Biscuit and ONE TOONUMAANY have just five previous runs between them but they appear, on paper at least, to have more scope for improvement than their four rivals for this $4,000 claimer. Juvee Too has run well enough on three of his four career starts and would need only to have progressed a little over the winter to take a hand in the finish. A repeat of the narrow second-place on his penultimate start last season also brings Jack Don’t Drink into the reckoning.
Sungold Beauty is a worthy morning line favourite after a 2021 campaign that saw the Sylvea Gregory-trained 4yo mostly mix it at a higher altitude than most of these. Koala, meanwhile, has only three runs to her name and all at the maiden $16k level, while Southern Lass has been working solidly. Although there is precious little evidence to go on, it might be worth taking a chance on BELLAROO. The 4yo Successful Appeal filly, whose single racecourse appearance was a creditable fourth-place finish behind Harvest Day, wouldn’t need to improve much to make her presence felt here.
All bar two of these ten $4k claiming fillies won last season and with odds-makers going 4-1 the field, this will not be easy to solve. Harlan’s Angel managed two sprint wins last term, including at the $6,250 level, while Ourevelady finished no worse than fourth in five runs and finished the season operating at the $8k level after beating Harlan’s Angel and Cushman Road in September. As a 4yo, the former Hastings Racing Club runner RICHARDS COMMAND is less experienced than most of these but three wins, a second and a third last year, as well as some occasional traffic problems, hint at more to come.
The highlight of the afternoon and quite a gathering of classy colts and geldings for this $28k allowance purse. Unbeaten in five career starts, Be Quick makes his first appearance for trainer Edgar Mendoza and did win over this distance on his debut last season. SIR BREGOVIC ended his 2021 campaign with narrow second to Greek Geek in the $75k Century Mile Handicap after starting his season winning at the $8k level. He’s also been putting in some eye-catching works this spring. Departure, meanwhile, is unbeaten in three starts this year already for Cindy Krasner and the 4yo’s fitness advantage shouldn’t be overlooked. Porter Gent and Cascade Billy have both been posting bullet workouts and go well fresh. Former Canadian Derby winner Explode may be seen to better effect later in the year, although he did win on his debut last season when besting Slew’s Da Boss over six-and-a-half furlongs.
Value Dancer showed enough in two starts last year to suggest it won’t be long before she’s bothering the judges and the same applies to the well-related C R Sunrise, a full sister to former Champion BC juvenile Stanz in Command. There should also be more to come eventually from Nuvanti, while Pagoda Ridge and Gwen make their Hastings debuts after 2021 campaigns at Woodbine. ARIKARA, meanwhile, was a nose away from graduating last August and was less than four lengths behind last weekend’s allowance winner, Smart Lad, despite finishing fifth.
Mike and Drew’s Weekend Picks
Saturday’s selections:
Sunday’s selections:
