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Hastings
Handicapper
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Hastings Handicapper
Brian McGregor
Krasner Gets Win 3000
14/ 08/ 00 -- Vancouver: Jockey Sam Krasner got his three thousandth win last Sunday at Hastings Park. He joins Hastings' Chris Loseth, who previously held the record. In other developments at Hastings, the August/ September issue of the Canadian Thoroughbred magazine reported that: "The City of Vancouver has finally agreed to the implementation of slots at the racetrack and the gaming minister is also in agreement …It is hoped that slots will be at the racetrack by 2001." The same magazine also published the current leaderboard of Canada's leading sires. Once again, British Columbia shows the way with 15 of the leading 25 sires listed. Among the top sires are Maudlin, Regal Intention, Vying Victor, and Feu d'Enfer. This is something to keep in mind when the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (BC) holds its Summer Sale on September 18th in Langley. The sale will feature 170 yearlings.
Two weekends ago Hastings Park featured its annual Breeder's Cup with seven stakes races, each worth no less than $50,000 in purse money. The weather was beautiful, and over 7,000 people turned out to wager $1,512,508. It was a day of surprises; some of them pleasant ones, as about 50% of the winners went off at long odds. In the 1 1/16 mile Stallion Stakes, Grey Tobe Free, trained by Robbie Anderson, and ridden by Sam Krasner, stole the show. In the 6 1/2 furlong Nursery, it was Revington, trained by Jim Brown, and ridden by Dan Brock, who got up for the win, returning $34.40/ $11.40/ $5.80. The 6 1/2 furlong Debutante, saw Jeff Sengara's Queen Of My Nights, trained by Dino Condilienos (his first stakes win at Hastings), and ridden by Chris Loseth, take the win, returning $31.50/ $11.70/ $5.80. In the 6 1/2 furlong Sprint, Ti Titanium, trained by Kim Hext, and ridden by Fernado Serna, stormed home to return $12.00 on the win. In the 1 1/8th Distaff, the popular Sky Borne, trained by Steve Henson, and ridden by Chris Loseth showed the way to the wire. In the 1 1/8th Classic, Kid Katabatic surprised everyone by making a last minute dash down the stretch to take the lion's share of the $65,000 purse. And, in the 1 1/16th mile Stallion Stakes (colts), it was King Jeremy, trained by Robbie Anderson, and ridden by Dave Wilson, who took a predictable win. Overall, it was a super day, made all the more special by the attendance of the 15 Field Artillery Band (39th Canadian Brigade Group).
Last weekend's racing was again greeted with beautiful weather. Saturday, August 12th, was especially notable for its surprise longshots, as seen in the first race, when Jeff Burningham brought Penny's Dividend home for the win, returning $42.80/ $15.30/ $4.00. And Burningham did a repeat in the second race with Positive Spin, returning $17.10/ $5.60/ $3.60. The daily double returned a huge $426.60. Among the horses running at long odds, Miss Dixie Brass was given a well managed ride by Dave Wilson in the 7th race, returning $16.10/ $5.60/ $4.10. That same day Woodbine featured the $500,000 Breeders Stakes, in which Lodge Hill and Master Stuart delivered a one/ two punch across the finish line, shutting out Scatter The Gold, who had won the first two legs of the Canadian triple Crown. But perhaps the crowning race of the day came from Saratoga, when, in the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap, John's Call along with Aly's Alley, running as a field, delivered a one /two punch, returning $19.70 on the win, and $27.10 on the place.
Sunday, August 13th was a chalk player's paradise, with the majority of the card going to favorites. The only exceptions to this was in the 1st race, when Indulgences got up for the win, returning $10.00/ $3.80/ $2.80. In the 5th race I'm Free made a game run for the win, returning $10.30/ $6.20/ $4.90. But the longshot play of the day came in the 6th race, when B. D. Victor got the edge and beat out the favorites, returning $20.70/ $8.00/ $4.10.
This Wednesday evening there will be live racing at Hastings Park. Post time is at 6:23 p.m. For those of you looking for likely picks and live longshots, don't forget to check out Railbird's Picks, available each race day at Countrytimes.Com.
