Hastings Handicapper – Brian McGregor-Foxcroft

 

06/ 09/ 99 – Vancouver:  The 29^th of August was a good day for Larry and Dorothy Phillips when their recent claim Bay Street Dancer got it’s second win in a row at Hastings Park. And, on the same day, their Hot Aly filly, Our Hot Gal, who Larry and Dorothy despaired would never hit the board, won by default in the 2^nd  Race at Kamloops. Larry had taken a lot of teasing about his filly, who Dorothy describes as   “a sweet filly with no heart for running.”  The Phillips’ and their trainer John Van Loon have been having a very  respectable year of racing. And, as of today (August 6^th), their Bay Street Dancer, has won its third sprint in a row. Heart felt congratulations also go out to Greg and Virginia McKinley, of Eagle Ridge Thoroughbreds for their win August 5^th in the 1^st  Race at Hastings Park, when their 2 year old Vying Victor colt, Victor Lehman, went wire to wire in the 3 1/2 Furlong race and  paid $11.90/ $4.80/ $4.20. Greg already has him spotted for an upcoming stakes race at Hastings. Those of us who know Greg and Virginia were very pleased, especially since their 3 year old Stormin To Victory, has disappointed this year.

 

In spite of unstable weather patterns in Vancouver, leading to off track conditions more often than not, racing at Hastings is getting better. The running of The Delta Colleen Handicap on August 5^th presented some challenges to handicappers. Nobody doubted that Allan Jack’s Deputy Sue was in there solidly, but who would snatch second and third spots at the wire? There was the 505 Farms California shipper Sagacity, an unknown factor in the Hastings bull pen. Another possible speedster, El Tiare was entering with one of the better Beyers on the page. And then there was the potential spoiler Point Guard in the mix. I mentioned this to a track acquaintance – I  had determined to sit this one out – and he did a Deputy Sue, Sagacity, El Tiare trifecta. When the $35,000 1 1/16 Mile race was run, it came out Deputy Sue 1^st, Sagacity 2^nd, and El Tiare 3^rd, with Point Guard lighting the tote board in 4^th position at the wire. The Exacta paid $20.80, and the Trifecta paid $75.50. My acquaintance was very happy, because this was his first cashable ticket of the day.

 

August 6^th at Hastings Park saw the Cindy Krasner trained Artic Son win the $50,000 S. W. Randall Plate with Frank Fuentes in the irons. Commendable runs were put in by Mark My Dreams, 2nd, ridden by Gerry Olguin, and Woking, 3^rd, ridden by Brian Johnson. All together the four days of racing over the holiday weekend were excellent, and a larger than normal attendance kept the betting handle up.

 

Meanwhile, at Emerald Downs, Washington, Hastings invaders continue to shake ‘em up. In the August 5^th 5^th Race the D. Forster trained Apieceoftheaction placed in 1 1/16 Mile event. And, in the 6^th  Race another Forster entry, Whistler Run placed in the 6^th Furlong event. But the big news of the day was the win by Rick Kamps’ American Justice, ridden by Chris Loseth in the $100,000 1 1/8 Mile  Eagle Hardware and Garden Derby, who wound up disqualified for interference in the stretch run, and was bumped to third.

 

Finally, the list of likely contenders for the big $200,000 British Columbia Derby is growing weekly. To date 11 horses are eligible for the start. The horses include: American Cash, Catahoula Parish (A Woodbine invader), Colors Of The Wolf, Code Name Fred (Alberta), Country Echo (Washington), Digital Dan, Imprimature, Rich R Gold, Vino Rossi (Washington), Warfare Warrior (Manitoba), and Wandering (recently claimed from California). It looks like it’s going to be a real tight and exciting race.

 

Until my next column, be sure to check out www.countrytimes.com regularly for updates on other upcoming stakes events at Hastings Park.