That's a Wrap!
Nine breathless races, ding-dong battles for leading owner AND trainer titles and two of the best juvenile races we've seen all season - closing day of Hastings 2022 was well up to standard...
Highlights
The mandatory payouts resulted in a $1,402 reward in the Pick 5 and $12,769 in the Pick 6
The handle was $836,192
Owners Joe and Gloria Russo had two wins on the day
Owners Willow Creek Farms had two wins on the day
Learie Seecharan and Amadeo Perez had riding doubles
Mostly grey and cold, with the occasional beam of sunlight later, but no complaints. The rain stayed away as it has done pretty much all season and the track was fast and fair.
Race 1.
The first on closing day went to the Hastings Racing Club’s PRINCE CAIRO ($24.00), who sat a perfect trip in behind the speed and when the leaders drifted out turning for home Efrain Hernandez seized the opportunity to save ground and get up late for the win in 1:43.80 for trainer John Snow. Peter Redekop's AROLLERCOASTERRIDE was up on a quick early pace of 23.50, 47.26 and 1:11.83 and it took its toll on the heavy favourite as he was vulnerable in the stretch and was beaten approaching the wire. Warren Wilson, Neil Stajkowski, June Sutherland, Ross Switzer and Barry Hickman's PAY MY WAY made a long sustained wide move to engage the leaders at the quarter pole was just outrun late but still ended up a close third.
Race 2.
The second of the day saw the Willow Creek Farm's GUNS N AMMO ($2.90) and Rob VanOverschot’s DON WITH THE WIND ($2.50) hit the finish line at the same time to form a dead-heat for the victory. GUNS N AMMO was stuck in behind the speed until the stretch when he shook loose under Amadeo Perez and ran gamely to the wire. DON WITH THE WIND set the early pace which was comfortable 24.20, 48.69 and 1:14.15 under Antonio Reyes and sprinted home well and the photo finish camera couldn’t separate the two thus a dead-hear for the win. Sean Ederer and Stewart Spencer's KNOPFLER came running late to be third.
Race 3.
The third of the afternoon went to Joe and Gloria Russo's KHAIKYS COMMAND ($3.90) who ran another game race, shooting off to the front under Learie Seecharan setting contested fractions of 22.41 and 45.51 then he was his usual stubborn self in the stretch to secure the victory in brilliant 1:16.74. Michelle Roberts-Henson's RACING RIVER was very good as well chasing the speed and running alongside the winner ended up a close second. BFA Holdings WISE MARKET scooted up the inside on the final turn and was travelling nicely in the lane and finished a fast closing third.
Race 4 - Ascot Graduation Stakes
The fourth was the $50,000 Ascot Graduation for two year olds at a mile and a sixteenth. The win went to Nick and Pauline Felicella's SUNBIRD ($13.10), who set a sensible early pace of 24.13, 48.04 and 1:13.12 which allowed him to have another gear left in the tank to stay on for the victory in 1:45.13 under Amadeo Perez for trainer Terry Jordan. The heavily favoured LEGACY SQUARE was a little wide early but otherwise was in the garden spot throughout and put in a solid run but couldn’t get by the winner and ended up a close second under Efrain Hernandez for trainer Edgar Mendoza. Craig MacPherson's LOGICAL AL was content to sit back off of the early pace and rode the rails into the lane to get up to be a good third under Kerron Khelawan.
Race 5 - Fantasy Stakes
The fifth was the $50,000 Fantasy for two year old fillies going a mile and a sixteenth and winning impressively was Rob and Sheena Maybin's NEIGHNEIGH ($5.70), who was aggressive early and set a lively pace of 23.64, 47.25 and 1:13.15 before drawing away to hold a big lead turning for home and easily hold her advantage to the wire in 1:46.76 under Silvino Morales for conditioner Rob Maybin. Renfrew Racing, B and B Racing, No Trump Stable, Matt Elder and Bill Breen's MATSQUI ran a huge race from well off of the pace to com five wide at the top of the stretch to nail down second money for trainer Mark Freeman and rider Scott Williams. Dennis Dale, Morris Peter and Ed Welsh's AIR FORCE was away awkwardly and was forced to settle in last position early but jockey Antonio Reyes didn’t panic and produced a solid late kick to move into the third position at the finish.
Race 6.
The sixth on the program was won by Joe and Gloria Russo's ABRIERWIN ($5.90) who tracked a contested early pace under Kimal Santo came with a stern move on the stretch to pull alongside the leaders and out sprinted them to the finish to win in 1:47.12 for trainer Patty Leaney. Rob and Sheena Maybin's MISS THE HYPE raced up on the pace through contested fractions of 24.61, 48.45 and 1:13.36 then took the lead into the lane but couldn’t hold off oncoming ABRIERWIN but ended up a clear second. Judy Bradley and Clint Willson’s SOMETHING ELUSIVE was held in reserve early down on the inside and stayed on the rail on beat the rest to get third.
Race 7.
The seventh race went to the Milburn Legacy's ARCH PRINCE ($28.20) who was let settle into a gallop early under Learie Seecharan far back off of the pace then started to pick off runners on the backside and the far turn then cruised by to win in 1:45.72 for trainer Peter Milburn. The Last Call Racing and Cathy Bornn’s JUST MAKE BELIEVE was sitting close to the quick pace (23.91, 47.The and 1:12.62) and breezed to the front at the eighth pole but couldn’t hold off the winner and ran second. The WYN Racing Stables ICE BREAKER turned in another good effort against the boys as the three year old filly rallied from mid pack early to be a close third.
Race 8.
The eighth event of the day was won by Star Lot Stables’ DON W ($5.90) who was taken back off of the pace under Kerron Khelawan to sit perfect trip in behind a pace duel (22.70, 46.47), then swept by the tiring leaders at the top of the stretch and had just enough in the tank to get the win in 1:18.99. Michelle Roberts-Henson, Brad Henson, Randy Henson, Dan Henson and Trevor Irwin's BARNEY GOOGLE was his usual lazy self through the opening stages then when niggled at he started to pass horses quickly but ran out of racetrack and finished a flying runner-up. The Sharlea Stable's BARBERRY BANDIT was content to sit well back off of the speed and put in a good late move to be third beaten less than a length for it all.
Race 9
The ninth and closing race of the 2022 season went to the Willow Creek Farm's BAKFIRE BABY ($11.50) who was away like a rocket and was allowed to relax under Antonio Reyes, sitting in a nice spot just off of the speed before quickly collaring the leader at the top of the stretch to win in the clear for trainer Steve Henson in 1:18.30. Roger Snow's FLYUNDERTHEGRAYDAR led the field through splits of 22.82 and 46.32 and battled gamely to the wire despite being collared and passed in midstretch and held second money. There was a dead-heat for third between the Hawaiian Shirt Guys FOOT SOLDIER and the Canmor Farms, Maureen Goss and Adrian Trombley’s ANAAMY who was always travelling well under Amadeo Perez and was gaining on the leaders but ended up third along with FOOT SOLDIER who was also in a good spot early and ran up the inside to join ANAAMY at the wire.
Final Standings
OWNERS:
Rob and Sheena Maybin – 16
Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds - 15
Willow Creek Farms - 14
TRAINERS:
Edgar Mendoza - 38
Barbara Heads - 37
Mark Cloutier - 24
Steve Henson - 24
JOCKEYS:
Amadeo Perez - 73
Antonio Reyes - 57
Silvino Morales - 38
Efrain Hernandez - 35
Note: Heartfelt thanks to all our subscribers for your support and feedback this year. And don’t forget that we’ll be producing the newsletter at least once a week during the off season, so please do let us know if there’s any news you’d like us to carry. We read all emails, even if it might take a day or two to get back to you!
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