Mendoza Three-Timer

Edgar Mendoza’s in-form barn struck again on Sunday with three more winners, while congratulations go to Hastings Racing Club manager Mark Freeman, who saddled his very first winner as a trainer

Oct 10, 2022

HIGHLIGHTS

Trainer Edgar Mendoza had a triple on the day
The Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds had two winners on the day
Trainer Mark Freeman saddles first career win
Both Silvino Morales and Efrain Hernandez had riding doubles
The Pick 5 carried over to $20,146 and the Pick 6 is at $13,260
The handle came in at $399,755

Hastings Race Reviews, Sunday Oct 9

Race 1.

The Sunday opener was won by the Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds VANCOUVER'S HUNTER ($4.40), who given a picture perfect ride by Efrain Hernandez as he stalked the speed and stayed on he inside throughout until angling off the rail at the eighth pole and got up late for the victory for trainer Edgar Mendoza in 1:46.10. The D and E Racing Stables LIZZIES GIRL was away well a d on the lead but was pressured the entire trip through fractions of 24.41, 48.26 and 1:13.01 which softened her up a bit and made her vulnerable in the stretch although she dug in finishing a close second. Rob and Sheena Maybin's EYE BE SEEING YOU was held back in reserve watching her stablemate battle on the lead for her and she put in a solid late run to be a close third.

VANCOUVER’S HUNTER (Efrain Hernandez) — photo Patti Tubbs

Race 2.

The second of the day was won by the Renfrew Racing's CAROLINA GENT ($6.80) who tracked the speed under Kuri Powell and popped out on the final turn and just ran down thespeed to win in 1:48.72 giving trainer Mark Freeman his first ever training victory. George Gilbert's UNBROKEN turned in a much better performance sitting close to a quick pace (23.77, 47.80 and 1:14.71) stayed on well and had the lead until the last jump. Judy Bradley and Clint Willson’s SOMETHING ELUSIVE rallied from far back to make things interesting and ended up a good third.

CAROLINA GENT (Kurt Powell) — photo Patti Tubbs

Race 3.

The third of the day went to the Foundation Stables GREYTOGO ($3.70), who was tucked nicely in behind the pace under Efrain Hernandez and when asked he responded with a sharp three wide move to gain command and went on to a comfortable score in 1:18.88 for trainer Rob Anderson. John Snow, Wi,Liam Dorsett and Bill Dobbie's TEXAS LEGACY who battled on the head end with jockey Kimal Santo through splits of 23.00 and 46.94 staying on gamely to take the runner-up spot. Joe and Gloria Russo's ABRIERWIN closed up nicely late to be third.

GREYTOGO (Efrain Hernandez) — photo Patti Tubbs

Race 4.

The fourth of the afternoon was taken by the Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds WANDALITA ($7.20), who was content to settle in behind the leaders then had to wait for racing room on the final turn but when Amadeo Perez shook loose with her she came with giant strides to win in a very good time of 1:16.84 for trainer Edgar Mendoza. Georges and Terry Georgeopoulos FLORAL was away a little slow as usual then galloped up to get in contention early then breezed by the leaders after a half-mile in 45.71 and l3d go the stretch but was reeled in late and finished a good second. The Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds KANDY KATIE was held far back off of the early pace and put in an impressive late move to get third money under Silvino Morales.

WANDALITA (Amadeo Perez) — photo Patti Tubbs

Race 5.

The fifth of the day went to Christine Ammann's REA MEA($10.30) who cleared the field early under Silvino Morales, setting sensible fractions of 22.51 and 45.11 then had plenty left in the stretch to nail down the win in 1:16.44 for trainer Edgar Mendoza. J G Williamson's BIG UNION was a little farther back than usual today and put in a good three wide move to threaten the winner but could not get by. George Gilbert's SMART LAD settled off the pace through the early stages and made a run in the lane to get up to be third.

REA MEA (Silvino Morales) — photo Patti Tubbs

Race 6.

The sixth event of the day was won by Lorie Henson, Helen Klimes and Sharon Pring's QUAGMIRE ($5.70) who was afforded some favourable early splits of 22.83 and 46.60 and he stayed strong to the wire under apprentice Fraser Aebly to win in 1:17.79 for trainer Steve Henson. The Hammer Racing Stables RING OF KERRY rushed up on the outside to draw along the leader going into the first turn then relaxed the fractions and loomed up to challenge turning for home but couldn’t stay with the winner. Derek Harris and Pat Marini's ADITYA raced wide throughout and made things close at the wire ending up third.

QUAGMIRE (Fraser Aebly) — photo Patti Tubbs

Race 7.

The final race on the program went to Rob and Sheena Maybin's MCMURPHY ($3.90), who tracked the speed under Silvino Morales and found a little more in the lane when needed to get the victory for trainer Rob Maybin in 1:18.54. The Wil-a-Way Farms CALAMAZEUS was far back early behind a slow pace (22.93, 46.58) which made it difficult but he still came running in the stretch to get up for the second spot. Harold and Sandra Barroby's IT'S IN COMMAND used his speed to his advantage and led the field until deep stretch before tiring a bit late ending up a close third.