HorseRacing Central May 17, 2007

CAN STREET SENSE KEEP IT GOING?

Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense continues his quest to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 with Saturday’s running of the 132nd Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore. Our resident racing expert analyst Mike Heads shares his thoughts:

His impressive victory going 1 1/4 miles in Louisville will undoubtedly sway fans into making Street Sense the favourite and with lots of speed in the lineup, his off-the-pace running style should give him a huge shot to win.

The Carl Nafzger trainee had his final prep on Tuesday morning, working five-eighths in 1:00 flat and galloping out six panels in 1:12.60 with sudden celebrity jockey Calvin Borel in the saddle.

Street Sense will be tested by talented colts Hard Spun and Curlin, the second and third finishers in the Kentucky Derby. Hard Spun, who led the field into the stretch at Louisville, will once again be ridden by Mario Pino while Curlin returns his regular pilot Robby Albarado.

Trainer Todd Pletcher saddled five horses in the Derby but brings only two to Baltimore: King Of The Roxy and Circular Quay. Adding more speed to the Preakness field will be Wayne Lukas’ colt Flying First Class, winner of the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs three weeks ago.

The probable field of nine will also feature Xchanger (winner of the Federico Tesio at Pimlico), C P West (2nd in the Withers) and Mint Slewlep (4th in the Withers).

The long-range forecast was for a splendid, sunny day on Saturday after midweek storms. Live coverage of the Preakness begins shortly after 3 p.m. and, as always, local racing fans can watch and wager at Racebook simulcast centres at Hastings Racecourse, Fraser Downs, Boulevard Casino, River Rock Casino and other TBC outlets.

SUPER MARIO OFF TO HOT START

Mario Gutierrez was a finalist in the Outstanding Apprentice Jockey category for a 2006 Sovereign Award following a sensational season that saw him finish his rookie season at Hastings with 27 victories with the bug and 91 wins overall.

Super Mario was determined to continue the pace in 2007 and three weeks into the season he’s been on fire with a leading 14 wins, five of them coming on Sunday, May 13th before a traditional huge crowd on Mother’s Day. The string started with Northern Missile and Cherokee Freedom in the first and second races, followed with wins on Complicit Swiss (7th), Grayross Gal (8th) and Arizona Dream (9th).

Gutierrez finished fourth on Snipie in Sunday’s fifth race that almost broke an all-time record at Hastings for the largest-ever $1 Superfecta payoff. Loud Linda was a $42.60 upset winner and the winning Superfecta numbers 8-10-3-2 paid a whopping $42,621.05 for a $1 ticket, however, all that was sold in that race was a 20-cent winning Superfecta ticket. Katiessecrettwist finished second with Perfect Peggy third. The record for Hastings still stands with a Superfecta payoff of $42,946 established on June 13th, 2004.

SUNDAY’S EMERALD DOWNS AT HASTINGS

Gutierrez has chosen to ride Restless Lady in the $50,000 Emerald Downs Stakes at Hastings on Sunday, May 20th. Restless Lady will be new to taking on stakes horses but she has won three in a row and was very impressive in beating You’rejustlikeme in a $50,000 optional claiming race on opening day, April 28th.

Chelsey’s Image, also entered in the Emerald Downs Stakes, has been the leading 3-year-old filly in the Ned Sams’ barn, finishing third in the CTHS Sales Stakes. But it appears Restless Lady could be taking over as the top commodity with the Sams connections.

MEMORIAL CUP FEVER

Everyone involved at every level at Hastings Racecourse wishes Don Hay’s Vancouver Giants a successful journey at the 2007 Memorial Cup Championship Tournament May 18th to 27th at the Pacific Coliseum.

We welcome hockey fans attending the Memorial Cup games to join the fun-filled atmosphere at Jerome’s Sports Bar off the main lobby at Hastings Racecourse. Jerome’s is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. with a popular and reasonably-priced food and beverage menu that can be enjoyed while watching simulcast thoroughbred racing from tracks from all over North America.

Racing fans are reminded to join us at Hastings earlier than normal on race days because of the anticipated hockey crowds. Use PNE Gate 9 parking lot off McGill Street.

The Road to the Memorial Cup starts at Hastings Racecourse! Good Luck Giants!

EVERYTHING’S OKAY IN WAYNE’S WORLD

It was 23 years ago when trainer Wayne Isbister prepared his first winner at Cloverdale Raceway: Monterey Breeze. And like that famous bunny with those batteries, Isbister just keeps on going.

The popular horseman who also carved a name for himself training thoroughbreds at old Exhibition Park (now Hastings Racecourse), Isbister reached a career milestone by recording victory number 1,000 as a standardbred trainer during an eventful Friday evening on May 4th at Fraser Downs.

Seven-year-old mare Preferred Share driven by Darren Howald scored a convincing victory in the Sandhurst Filles & Mares Pace in 1:55.3. Raced by Bruce Murdoch of Prince George, Preferred Share has hit the Winner’s Circle four times this year.

To top off the evening, Isbister scored two more wins on May 4th with Maxamillenium and Red Star Fantasia.

ASK THE HANDICAPPER

In each edition of HorseRacing Central we invite readers to email our resident expert analyst Mike Heads at mheads@hastingsracecourse.com with a race-related question. The person who submits the question we publish wins lunch for two at Hastings Racecourse or Fraser Downs Racetrack & Casino. Our winner in this issue is Larry Eng, who asks:

“I see in the Daily Racing Form when a horse works out, beside the published workouts you see a B, H or D. Can you let me know what the difference is between these letters and which is the best to be looking for as we handicap?”

MIKE’S ANSWER:
The letter you want to be looking for is B for Breezing which means this horse is considered by the clockers to be going easily without urging. H for Handily is when the rider for the workout is asking his horse for his best at the end of the work; he’s shaking the lines and hitting the horse with the whip in the closing stages of the workout to ensure that the horse continues his current rate of speed. D is for Driving and is one a handicapper does not want to see. This is when a rider is pressing the horse the entire workout and that’s a sign that the horse really doesn’t want to participate. Both B and H are fine.

SEDINS WILL RETURN TO FRASER DOWNS

When Daniel and Henrik Sedin visited Fraser Downs for an NHL Productions television shoot last February, they told track GM Scott Sinclair they’d return at the first opportunity and pleasure would certainly come before business. In other words, the two Canucks stars who own standardbreds in their native Sweden planned on a fun night at Fraser Downs.

Sinclair left them with an open invitation but their return will not happen until next fall. A week after being eliminated by Anaheim in the second round of Stanley Cup playoffs, the Sedins returned to their native land. But not before sending word to Fraser Downs fans that they will be back as soon as their schedules allow it.