Synergy lands Wolski Memorial

Tom Wolski would have appreciated the turn-out at Hastings on Saturday, with plenty of friends and colleagues on hand to watch the race run in his memory

Oct 16, 2022

HIGHLIGHTS

Craig MacPherson had a training double
Antonio Reyes checked in with two riding victories
The handle was $527,567
The Pick 5 carryover sits at $23,109 and the Pick 6 is $16,485

The glorious autumn weather continued unabated at Hastings on Saturday, with barely a cloud in the sky or a breath of wind. The track remained fast all afternoon and seemed to suit horses on the front end.

Race 1.

The Saturday opener went to the Hastings Horsepower and Minnaloushe Stables LASTING LIGHT ($8.60), who showed good speed and secured the lead and the rail under Learie Seecharan through fractions of 22.53 and 45.89 and she had plenty left in reserve to win comfortably in 1:17.21 for trainer Dave Milburn. Jim and Anne Alendal’s HARLAN'S ANGEL was forced to race three wide the entire trip and battled on gamely to get the runner-up spot for trainer Cindy Krasner. George Gilbert's TAKE CHARGE GWEN was off a step slow and was also out of position for much of the t4ip and could only rally to get third money.

LASTING LIGHT (Learie Seecharan) — photo Patti Tubbs

Race 2.

The second of the day was won by Freedom Farms, Wayne Oliver and Peter Tom's ADDENDUM ($4.00), who broke alertly and set a sensible pace under Kerron Khelawan of 22.62 and 46.31 and the Tara Neigel trainee looked impressive in the stretch winning under wraps in 1:18.94. John and Kim Morrison's MILITARY CROSS was far handier early win the blinkers added today and sat a tracking trip just off of the flank of the winner and stayed on well to be second. Wayne Oliver’s ANZAC BAY was a little slow to begin but came with a brilliant late run to just miss second and end up third in her debut.

ADDENDUM (Kerron Khelawan) — photo Patti Tubbs

Race 3.

The third event was reduced to a field of four and taking full advantage was Don Tetaranko's SILK STILETTOS ($2.70), who was sent off to the lead under Antonio Reyes setting modest fractions of 24.24, 47.74 and 1:13.08 and easily drew off to a convincing score in 1:46.00 for trainer Craig MacPherson. The G.O. Stables TEXAS HUMOR was content to settle in the second spot early and was nipping at th3 heels of he winner throughout and could not stay with her but held the second spot under Ridge Balgobin for trainer Erick Gutierrez. The Pocket Aces Racing Stable's SILVER ARROW was in a perfect position behind the speed and could do no better than third under apprentice Fraser Aebly.

SILK STILETTOS (Antonio Reyes) — photo Patti Tubbs

Race 4 - The Tommy Wolski Memorial

**SYNERGY lands the Tommy Wolski Memorial purse and is greeted by winning connections plus some of Tom’s many friends and colleagues down the years** *— photo Patti Tubbs*

The fourth race on the program was the Tommy Wolski purse named after one of Hastings’ best racing ambassadors and was won by Russ and Lois Bennett's SYNERGY ($7.00), who afforded the luxury of setting a very slow early tempo and 24.61, 49.84 and 1:14.89 and drove clear to the finish in 1:51.15 under Antonio Reyes for trainer Barbara Heads. Joe and Gloria Russo's FORT LANGLEY was closer than usual in the second spot early and was in an excellent spot to win but couldn’t stay with the winner and ended up second. The Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds STAY FANTASTIC was done no favours with the slow pace scenario and was charging home in he stretch but the speed was not coming back so he had to settle for third.

SYNERGY (Antonio Reyes) — photo Patti Tubbs

Race 5.

The fifth of the afternoon went to the Sasquatch and Dreamtime Stables AVE'S IN COMMAND ($23.10) who led throughout under Ridge Balgobin, setting solid splits of 24.14, 47.65 and 1:12.28 and understandably was a little weary in the stretch but still was clear finding the finish line first in a very good 1:45.17 for trainer Bruce Unwin. Helen Jewell's APPELLANT was his usual lazy self early then produced a big four wide move on the stretch turn and was gaining on the winner but ran out of racetrack and ended up second. Rob and Sheena Maybin's MUSTACHIO was allowed to sit in a nice spot through the opening six furlongs under Learie Seecharan started to lose contact with the winner on he final bend but held well for third.

AVE’S IN COMMAND (Ridge Balgobin) — photo Patti Tubbs

Race 6.

The sixth of the day went to the Canyon Farm's MONTE ($7.50) who showed his customary good speed, setting a lively pace of 22.44 and 46.24 built up a big lead to the stretch and just lasted to win in 1:18.81 under Gabriel Morales for trainer Craig MacPherson. Willow Lake Farms and Stables ROLLIE'S SPIRIT was nicely relaxed in the second spot well behind the leader under Kimal Santo then began to creep up approaching the far turn and was making good headway in the lane but couldn’t quite get up and ran second. Michelle Roberts-Henson, Brad Henson, Randy Henson, Dan Henson and Trevor Irwin's BARNEY GOOGLE was far back early and made a huge wide run on the stretch turn and was flying late but ended up a close third.

MONTE (Gabriel Morales) — photo Patti Tubbs

Race 7.

The seventh and final of the day was won by Rob Thacker’s JERSEY LILLIE ($5.50), who set a comfortable pace of 22.52 and 46.25 under Amadeo Perez and continued to race in front into the lane showing grit late to just hang on for the win in 1:18.23 for trainer Demetris Topouzis. The Hastings Racing Club's HOLLYWOOD MISTRESS was given a perfect opportunity by Scott Williams to win as he put her in the second spot early with dead aim on the pacesetter but couldn’t quite catch the winner and ran second. Rob and Sheena Maybin's BELLAROO weaved her way through the field from off the pace under Silvino Morales to end up a fast closing third.