Two For Joy

CTHS Vice President Ralph Jesiak breeds winners of both juvenile legs of the CTHS Sales Stakes series, while leading riders Amadeo Perez and Antonio Reyes trade winning doubles

Aug 23, 2022

Winner ICE BREAKER wears the Dave Bennington Memorial blanket alongside her trainer Larry Grieve

HIGHLIGHTS

Breeder Ralph Jesiak bred both two-year-old Stakes winners.
Amadeo Perez and Antonio Reyes both had riding doubles.
The handle was $493,985.
The Pick 5 had a unique winner and it paid $4,875.60.
The Pick 6 carryover is $1,253.23

Summer did her marvellous work again and race fans, holidaymakers and those who managed to get away from office for the afternoon were treated to a perfect August day. A light breeze kept everyone smiling and the track was fast.

Hastings Race Reviews, August 22

Race 1.

The first race on the Monday afternoon card went to the RC Racing’s SKY FACTOR ($7.20) who was afforded a clear and comfortable lead as she settled nicely through splits of 22.73 and an uncontested fraction of 46.64 to the half-mile station which made her impossible to catch and she drew away smartly to win under Antonio Reyes in 1:18.64 for trainer Keith Pedersen. Maureen Goss, Adrian Trombley and Canmor Farm's ANAAMY was off beautifully as the field left the gates then was wrestled back to eventually sit three wide around the first turn then made a quick move between fillies on the final bend but could only manage to be a distant runner-up. The heavily favoured GWEN was sawed off leaving the chute costing her valuable early position then she put in a decent run on the inside to get third money for leading owners Rob and Sheena Maybin .

SKY FACTOR (Antonio Reyes) — *photo Patti Tubbs*

Race 2.

The second of the afternoon was won by J G Williamson Racing Stables BIG UNION ($3.10) who was the odds-on choice settled comfortably off of a slow early pace then breezed up to the pacesetter on the stretch turn and started to inch away in the closing stages for the victory in a sharp 1:16.50 under Amadeo Perez for trainer Steve Henson. The Goonshow Stables FINDING WAYS was allowed to set a leisurely pace getting the quarter in 22.60 and the half in 46.13 and led the field to the lane but could not match strides with the winner and ended up a clear second. Luis Megalhaes’ MACHINE turned in a big effort in his first start of 2022 staying on gamely for the third spot.

BIG UNION (Amadeo Perez) — *photo Patti Tubbs*

Race 3 — CTHS Sales Stakes (3/4yo Colts and Geldings)

The third on the program was the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stake for three and four year olds and the hard fought battle went to Gary McNeil's White Hall Farm's BE QUICK ($3.20) who led the field after breaking on top then was confronted through 23.74 opening quarter then a quick half-mile in 46.66 and six panels in 1:11.82 and stayed strong to the wire winning under Amadeo Perez for trainer Edgar Mendoza in 1:44.49. Ted Smith and Rob and Vicky Gilker's NINE ONE ONE ran amazingly well in his first try going long after a tardy beginning he pushed up three wide early to get near the lead and raced in he two path to the wire and stayed dead game with BE QUICK but had to settle for second money. The Willow Creek Farms MOUNT ASGARD was situated far back early and made a good run to rescue the third spot.

BE QUICK (Amadeo Perez) — *photo Patti Tubbs*

Race 4 - The Dave Bennington Memorial Purse

Dave Bennington’s son, Michael (black cap) poses with extended family alongside the memorial blanket in the race named for his late father — *photo Patti Tubbs*

The fourth of the day was run in honour of the late Dave Bennington, former President of the CTHS and a big loss to the BC racing industry earlier this year. The 8½-furlong contest went to the WYN Racing Stables ICE BREAKER ($7.90) who was given a perfect ride in behind the speed by Antonio Reyes letting her settle into a nice gallop then produced a solid final quarter-mile burst to outrun the fillies to the wire in 1:46.53 for trainer Larry Grieve. Don Tetaranko's SILK STILETTOS appreciated the class relief and was relaxed early sitting just off of sensible fractions of 24.56, 48.72 and 1:13.92 then took command on the stretch turn but couldn’t hold off the onrushing ICE BREAKER and ended up a much improved second. The Hastings Racing Club's HOLLYWOOD MISTRESS was racing along the rail early and seemed to be spinning her wheels until Scott Williams got her mind on business and scooted up he inside the lane to get the third spot.

ICE BREAKER (Antonio Reyes) — *photo Patti Tubbs*

Race 5 — CTHS Sales Stakes (2yo Colts/Geldings)

The fifth was the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stake for two year colts and geldings at six and a half furlongs and winning the top prize was Joe and Gloria Russo's BUCK IN COMMAND ($51.30) who led the field throughout to get the upset victory at 24-1 under Scott Williams for trainer Patty Leaney. The son of Second in Command got loose on the lead through sensible fractions 22.41 and 46.60 and stopped the teletimer in a quick 1:17.86 just fending off LEGSCY SQUARE for the win. The Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds and James Redekop's LEGACY SQUARE lost no lustre on his impressive resume as he was stuck out in the four path for much of the trip and to just miss winning was a true testament to his talent. The Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds and James Redekop's BAK TO LIBERTY was also a little wide throughout which cost him but he still managed to stay on for third money.

BUCK IN COMMAND (Scott Williams) — *photo Patti Tubbs*

Race 6 — CTHS Sales Stakes (2yo Fillies)

**CTHS Vice President Ralph Jesiak completed an uncommon double at Hastings on Monday, breeding the winners of both CTHS Sales Stakes for juveniles**

The sixth was the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stake for two year old fillies and winning comfortable was Marty Miller's LOVEABOVEANDBEYOND ($8.60) who racked up her second consecutive stakes for rider Efrain Hernandez and trainer Mark Cloutier. The daughter of freshman sire Counterforce was away well and settled behind a pace duel (21.95, 46.17) then asserted her superiority heading into the stretch and drew off for a big score. Renfrew Racing, B and B Racing, No Trump Stable, Matt Elder and Bill Breen's MATSQUI who rallied strongly through the stretch at 60-1 after being far behind early to get the second spot under Jose Gomez for trainer Mark Freeman. The Swift Thoroughbreds LICORICE got into a spirited pace duel early and proceeded to win that battle and did amazingly well to hold third money at the wire.

LOVEABOVEANDBEYOND (Efrain Hernandez) — *photo Patti Tubbs*

Race 7 — CTHS Sales Stakes (3/4yo Fillies)

The final of the afternoon was the $50,000 CTHS Sales stakes for three and four year old fillies going a mile and a sixteenth and taking home top honours was the Blue Willow Dairy’s DAPHNE ($14.80) who led virtually from wire-to-wire under Jose Gomez as he put her on the head end through challenging fractions of 23.55, 47.03 and 1:11.98 and she kept to her business and hit the line first in a good time of 1:44.81 for Hall-of-Fame conditioner Dave Forster. The Willow Creek Farms WE B THREE was off a step slow which her position but showed her true talent and looked to be a winner on the final turn but was outrun by a stubborn filly to the finish. Conrad Rozenek’s MARYS TAPPIN SHOES was much improved without the blinkers and made a solid sustained run from last to get up third under Ridge Balgobin.