HorseRacing Central July 4, 2008

A RARE STAKES DOUBLEHEADER

For the first time this season at Hastings Racecourse there will be two carded stakes races on the same program: the $50,000 Supernaturel Handicap with a field of six 3-year-old fillies and the $50,000 Vancouver Sun Handicap with eight fillies and mares entered for an exciting Saturday afternoon of racing beginning at 1:25 p.m.

Remarkable Miss and Daymaker look like the main threats in the Supernaturel with the edge going to Remarkable Miss after coming off a second-place finish to Dancing Allstar in the CTHS Sales Stakes on June 21. Daymaker is a Kentucky-bred filly by Fusaichi Pegasus who ran a huge race to finish second, beaten a neck in the Penny Ridge Stakes at Stampede Park on June 15.

The entry of Holy Nova and Lady Raj in the Sun Handicap will be the prohibitive favourites. Holy Nova has won both of her starts at Hastings this season (Brighouse Belles on May 10; Senate Appointee on May 31) while Lady Raj couldn’t have been more impressive in winning the Strawberry Morn on June 15 by 7 ½ lengths.

CHRIS LOSETH STAKES SUNDAY

Hastings’ all-time leading jockey Chris Loseth will be in the winner’s circle to decorate the winner of Sunday’s $50,000 stakes named in his honour. Seven 3-year-old colts will travel the 1 1/16 mile trip with Peter Redekop’s Star Prospector favoured.

BIG HOLIDAY CARDS IN U.S.

The Independence Day Holiday Weekend in the United States always results in plenty of stakes action and it starts Friday (July 4) with two graded stakes at Belmont. Also, Churchill Downs will be hosting the $200,000 Firecracker Stakes with Einstein back in action after his runner-up effort on dirt behind Curlin in the $1 million Stephen Foster last month.

Saturday at Hollywood Park Canada’s horse-of-the-year Sealy Hill will try to hand Zenyatta her first career defeat as they hook up in the $300,000 Vanity Handicap. There are four other graded stakes on the Hollywood program Saturday: the Grade 3 Hollywood Juvenile, Grade 2 Cash Call Mile, the Grade 1 American Oaks Invitational and the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes.

Saturday’s card from Evangeline will feature stakes from races four through 11 on a 13-race card. This is the track that probably has the largest fields in the country.

Check your simulcast schedule for starting times on the July 4 holiday cards.

LOCALS ARE ALBERTA-BOUND

At Northlands Park on Saturday Lecturing Lynn owned by Steven MacDonald and trained by Tracy McCarthy runs in the $50,000 Chariot Chaser stakes. Lecturing Lynn broke her maiden at Hastings and she was a tough-luck second after a wide trip in an allowance test. Quincy Welch will be in the irons.

OUT OF TOWN SCOREBOARD

True Metropolitan had a tough trip while finishing second in the $200,000 Dominion Day at Woodbine on Tuesday. Trainer Terry Jordan now says he’s looking for a race for True Metropolitan before he runs in the Longacres Mile on Aug. 17.

On Saturday, July 12 Alberta Derby winner Arkhill heads back to Alberta to run in the $50,000 Ky Alta. Arkhill races for Neville Davis and is trained by Craig MacPherson. Also on July 12 Dancing Allstar is scheduled to run in the $250,000 Azalea Stakes at Calder in Southern Florida.

ANOTHER SERVING OF SPAGHETTI MOUSE

Spaghetti Mouse asserted himself as the top handicap horse currently in B.C. with his convincing win over Lord Avalon in the $100,000 Lieutenant Governors’ on Canada Day at Hastings. With Pedro Alvarado up, Spaghetti Mouse broke sharply and looked comfortable the rest of the way. It was a third straight Lt. Governors’ victory for ‘The Mouse’, owned by Nick and Pauline Felicella.

HASTING PROMOTIONS IN FULL SWING

Friday afternoon racing returns to Hastings Racecourse on July 11 and fans can qualify for a seat at the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. Weekly winners will receive $200, plus a $100 bonus if you’re an HPI member. ROCK 101 will be Hastings on July 11 to broadcast live from the Granville Island Brewing Beer Garden with lots of prizes on the give-a-way list.

Hastings congratulates the winners who cashed in during our four consecutive days of racing over the Canada Day holiday. Cindy Lee won the $5,000 Home Renovation; Mary Stanton was the happy recipient of VIP passes to the Merritt Mountain Music Festival; Dan Hamilton was the Granville Island Brewing Brewmaster for a Day; Berry Owen won the HPI June Give-a-way of a River Rock Casino Resort Experience and A. Boudarettch won the 19” LCD HD-ready television.

There’ll be a Girls Night Out prize package up for grabs on a Hastings Friday afternoon card that will include accommodation for 4-6 guests at River Rock Casino Resort, a $100 gift card and many other surprise gifts And remember, you can put your friends or family up at the Holiday Inn Express Vancouver and enjoy the Hastings Racecourse Stay ‘n’ Play rate. Call 604-254-1000 for more details.

FRASER DOWNS WINDS DOWN IN STYLE

With the conclusion of the Fraser Downs 2007-08 standardbred meet this past Saturday, it was no surprise that Bill Davis was crowned leading driver and trainer for yet another year.

Davis had 173 wins from 649 drives for a win percentage of 26%. He also finished second in 102 races and had 100 thirds. His UDRS rating (for top three finishes) was .405. Davis’ purse earnings topped the million dollar mark. Jim Marino finished second with 115 wins; Serge Masses was third with 100.

As a trainer, Davis visited the winners circle 150 times from 439 starts. Masse was second with 87 training wins while Dave Hudon finished third with 73.

Management, staff and horsemen at Fraser Downs would like to offer a speedy recovery to owner/trainer Sten Ericsson who suffered a stroke during the final week of racing.

SANDOWN HERE WE COME

Harness racing returns to Sidney and Sandown Park on Vancouver Island for three days this summer. The schedule is three consecutive Saturday afternoons: July 12, 19 and 26.