Hastings Handicapper

Brian McGregor-Foxcroft

 

Queen’s Plate 2000: Mr. Prospector Strikes Again

 

25/ 06/ 00 – Vancouver: It has been a busy week of racing, including some very big Canadian thoroughbred and standardbred events. On Saturday, June 24, the $1,000,000 North America Cup, the premier harness event of the year, was run at Woodbine. Gallo Blue Chip made an excellent run in 1:50.1 for the win, paying $10.50/ $6.40/ $5.60. Tyberwood got up for second, paying a nice $19.70/ $12.00, and Camotion, picked up the show, paying $5.60. The exacta paid $256.90, the trifecta paid $1,995.60, and the superfecta paid $8,110.35. This was followed Sunday with the $1,000,000 1 ¼ mile Queen’s Plate from Woodbine. Everyone was expecting Pete’s Sake, trainer Todd Pletcher’s winner of The Plate Trial, to double up his victories, but it wasn’t to happen. Pete’s Sake seemed to falter badly at about the half way point, and regressed, finishing last. His run was too bad to be believable, and we can only speculate that something went horribly wrong for him. At the wire it was the late Ernie Samuel bred and owned, Mr. Prospector sired maiden, Scatter The Gold who got up for an impressive win, returning $9.30/ $4.70/ $3.10. Equally nice returns came from I And I, who came second, paying $9.10/ $6.70, and, For Our Sake, who got up for third, paying $7.40. This was a bittersweet victory for the Samuel family, who lost their patriarch just a few weeks ago. The most impressive horse in both The Plate Trial and The Queen’s Plate, has to be I And I, who came up for the place in both events, and was purchased for $5,500 at the 1999 Ontario Autumn Sale. So, I ask you, why was he so under-bet in both events? Another point of interest is the fact that he does not need Lasix. It’s too bad they gelded him, he looks like he would have been a good stamina stallion.

 

Meanwhile, back at Hastings Park, Wednesday, June 21, saw another excellent live card of eight races. There were some really tight races, including the 6 ½ furlong fourth, in which the Larry Phillip’s owned, John Van Loon trained, Bay Street Dancer, with Ruben Solis in the irons, made a powerful late stretch run to steal the win from a front running Majestic Arms. Bay Street Dancer returned $9.50/ $4.50/ $2.30. In the 6 ½ furlong fifth race an under-bet Teeyah, with Dan Brock in the irons, charged home for the win, paying $13.20/ $6.00/ $3.40. Bravo Two Zero, with Ben Russell up, gave an aggressive run, but came up just a little short. The 1 1/16^th mile seventh feature race of the night went to Point Five, who picked up the lion’s share of the $18.000 purse.

 

Friday, June 23, saw mainly favorites coming across the line, but it was not without it’s pleasant surprises, when the Greg and Virginia McKinley bred Roy L Appointment broke her maiden in her second career start, in the second race of the day at 3 ½ furlongs. Alistair Of Perth was another who broke through to get his first career win in the fifth race on the card. The $13,000, 1 1/16^th mile feature event of the day went to Simply Sliver, who went off as the predictable favorite, with Frank Fuentes in the irons. Princess Premier and Pacific Beauty got up for the second and third money.

 

Saturday, June 24, saw some surprise upsets, as well as some predictable outcomes. In the 6 ½ furlong fifth race of the day, My Handyman, with Dave Wilson in the irons, grabbed the win, returning $28.70/ $10.00/ $6.50. The 6/ 1/ 4/ 7 superfecta paid $12,800,55. And in the 6 ½ furlong, $30,000 Emerald Handicap Stakes, all eyes were on the favorite, Grooms Derby, with Ben Russell in the irons, who did not disappoint. Grey Tobe Free and Bamboo Queen gave game runs for second and third money.

 

Like Friday, Sunday was mainly a favorites day, with the exception of the fifth race, which saw Flyaway Firefly, with Chris Loseth in the irons, coming up for the win and returning $13.30. Justa Vacation placed, and The Last Reign came third, returning $12.20. Nehama came fourth rounding out the superfecta to pay $6,653,30. In the 1 1/16^th mile sixth race, Winitall, with Ben Russell in the irons, came into form, taking the winner’s share of the $15,000 purse, and beating out Jaywalker and Shoo Fly Willie. The $30,000, 1 1/16^th mile seventh feature event, The Province Handicap Stakes, went to King Jeremy, with Chris Loseth in the irons. The equally speedy Ball And Chain came up for the place, with Daring Dennis picking up the show.

 

Overall, fans were very pleased with the weekend, as sunny skies prevailed, the fields were competetive, and the handle was up. Throw into this mix a very successful wrap up for the Sha Tin season on Saturday evening, which also saw a 30% increase in handle, and you had all the elements of a wonderful week of racing.

 

Finally, two additional pieces of racing news are the merger between Arlington International Racecourse and Churchill Downs. This is the age of the mega-track merger, leaving Churchill Downs with Ellis Park, Calder, Hollywood Park, and Hoosier, and Frank Stronach with nearly all the rest. Also of note is the news that the 7 year old Yagli, a Breeder’s Cup winner, is being retired to stud in Ireland. His 2000 campaign has been less than stellar due to his age. But he was a wonderful runner, and we can look forward to his progeny setting their own records on the dirt and turf in the years ahead.

 

I hope all of you had a great handicapping weekend. I was up and down and up again, but that’s what it’s all about, battling the odds and having some fun.