Uncharacteristic a Genuine Star
Uncharacteristic a Genuine Star
The Canadian and Manitoba Derby hero takes down high-class George Royal while Heads saddles Emerald Downs exacta in Solarity triumph
SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS:
The handle was $476,944.
The Pick 5 carryover is at $13,938 and the Pick 6 is up to $6,739.
Rider Antonio Reyes had a riding triple.
The rains subsided for the afternoon which allowed the track to dry and give us a very fast racing strip for our seven race Saturday program, which featured two competitive $50,000 stakes races.
Race 1.
The first of the day was a blowout win for the High Stakes Thoroughbreds and John Snow's homebred JUVEE TOO ($8.00) who dominated the four-horse field in wire-to-wire fashion winning by seven lengths under apprentice Angela Straight in a swift 1:17.50. Richard Hamel and Charlene Miller's ATOMIC HAZE was void of any early speed and made a sharp move on the final turn to get up for second money. George Gilbert's HARVEST DAY battled on the pace (22.46, 46.23) as the heavy 3/5 favourite but could not stay with the winner and ended up third.
Race 2.
The second went Lorie Henson and Helen Klimes' QUEEN OF ATTITUDE ($4.90) who rallied from last to first after a tardy beginning to win going away giving her the second win of the season under Amadeo Perez for trainer Steve Henson. Roxanne's Racing Stable and Milton Palma's MI REYNA stalked the fast early pace (21.72, 44.76) that was being set by DEFINITE PLEASURE then started to creep up on the stretch turn and finished gamely to the wire but couldn’t hold off the oncoming QUEEN OF ATTITUDE. The Canyon Farm's FLORAL was away poorly and spotted the field eight or ten lengths early and then put in a brilliant run to get the lead into the lane but was caught in deep stretch and had to settle for an unlucky third.
Race 3 - The $50k Emerald Downs Stakes
The third was the $50,000 Emerald Downs stakes for older fillies and mares going six and a half furlongs and getting to the wire first was Russ and Lois Bennett's SOLARITY ($15.00) who rebounded off of a last place performance three weeks ago to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:16.85. The Barbara Heads trainee sat much of the trip in the three path stalking a comfortable pace of 22.30 and 45.63 and then started to inch away heading for home and was able to hold off her stablemate CHA CHING at the finish. Russ and Lois Bennett's CHA CHING had no early speed and was travelling well at the end and secured second money in the stretch under Scott Williams. The Swift Thoroughbreds HEIDI broke sharply and set a sensible but contested pace of 22.30 and 45.63 ran gamely to the wire finishing third.
Race 4.
The fourth of the day went to Katherine Anderson and Edgar Mendoza's AVE'S IN COMMAND ($5.40) who sat just off the of the speed of Harold and Sandra Barroby's IT'S IN COMMAND who set fractions of 22.32 and 46.23 then AVE'S IN COMMAND started to get the better of his speed rival and had enough left in reserve to win under Antonio Reyes in 1:18.54. Lillian Meehan's KLONDIKE GENTLEMAN was a menacing force in the late going and closed up smartly to get the second prize. Gabrielle Mathussek’s PADDY D'ORO was making his first start of the year and turned a solid effort rallying late to get third.
Race 5.
The fifth went to the Hammer Racing Stables recent acquisition ALWAY'S A KNIGHT ($6.10) who sat a perfect trip in behind leaders then easily swept by at the quarter pole and built up three length lead turning for home and held his advantage for trainer Rob Henson giving rider Antonio Reyes a natural triple on the day. Mel and Fran Snow's THE CHANCES R ran a much improved race showing speed and staying on well to finish second. Vanessa Pedersen's SWORD FIGHTER didn’t really have a great pace early for his late running style but he did close up well to gain the third spot.
Race 6 - The $50k George Royal Stakes
The sixth was the co-feature of the afternoon the $50,000 George Royal, which was the most competitive stakes field we have had in some time at Hastings and surprising many was the Ironside Stables UNCHARACTERISTIC ($56.90), who flew home late at 27-1 to catch everyone to claim his first stakes win here in Vancouver. The son of Texas Wildcatter captured the Manitoba and Canadian Derby’s last fall and stamped himself as a top three year old in Western Canada last year and proved today that he will be a force against older horses as he rallied from ninth place to get up in deep stretch to win in 1:16.23 under Alex Marti for trainer Rob VanOverschot. The Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds PORTER GENT and Amadeo Perez ran another courageous race tracking the crazy fast tempo (21.63, 44.32) and looked to be a winner in midstretch but just got caught nearing the wire. Shawn and Karen Strachan SIR BREGOVIC may have run the best race of them all as he battled on a suicidal pace and was still in with a chance to win nearing the wire and ended up a tough luck third beaten only by three-quarters of the length for trainer Jim Strachan and rider Cerapio Figueroa.
Race 7.
The seventh went to the Blue Willow Dairy Stable's DAPHNE ($16.60) who made her first start of the season a winning one with Jose Gomez up leading throughout for Hall of Fame trainer Dave Forster in a very quick time of 1:17.15 for the six and half furlongs. Bryan and Carol Anderson's AMANDA was away in good order and held a perfect striking position but never could get on even terms with her older rival DAPHNE and finished a clear second almost five lengths ahead of Rob and Sheena Maybin's MISS THE HYPE who rallied from well back to get third
There were four claims on the day:
Race 2 – Definite Pleasure was claimed by owner/ trainer Rod Therres for $20,000.
Race 4 - Ave's in Command was haltered for $5,000 by the Sasquatch and Dreamtime Stables for trainer Bruce Unwin.
Race 4 – Quagmire went to Rob Thacker and trainer Julie Wicks for $5,000.
Race 5 – Alway's a Knight was reclaimed by Don Danard and Mel Snow for $5,000.
Mike and Drew’s Derby Bar and Grill Picks - Sunday
In Case You Missed It…
The 2022 Epsom Derby was won in scintillating style by DESERT CROWN, a colt by Galileo’s son, Nathaniel. He was the sixth Derby winner for his trainer Sir Michael Stoute and a first for rider, Richard Kingscote. Desert Crown is owned by Saeed Suhail ,was bred in the UK by Strawberry Fields Stud and was a Tattersalls October Sale graduate (280,000gns).
And finally…
These ‘Fans of the Day’ at Hastings know what a great place the East Van Oval is to start your bachelorette celebrations. Let’s hope they backed a few winners to pay for the cocktails!
— photo Bailey Williams
Racing resumes Sunday with another seven-race card. First race at 2:00pm.
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