HorseRacing Central July 10, 2009

TWO STAKES AT HASTINGS

Back-to-back Saturday/Sunday $50,000 stakes races are on the agenda at Hastings Racecourse this weekend. It begins with The Boulevard Casino on Saturday, an allowance for 2-year-old fillies over six furlongs. Vying Ty Grr looked pretty impressive defeating colts at the same distance in 1:12.40. She did everything right that day and if she repeats the same type of race she should win right back.

The entry of Cherokee Notion and Dyna Stroll looks like a real "live" tandem in Sunday’s River Rock Resort for 2-year-olds over six furlongs. With Mario Gutierrez opting for Dyna Stroll, that might be worth considering. It really is a neat one-two punch. Victor’s Magic didn’t have any problems winning in the first 2-year-old race of the season back in mid-May and he’s been working steadily ever since. Even though it’s a long time to entertain a 2-year-old between races, he has looked awesome in his morning preps.

Start time tonight is 7:00 p.m. with the regular 1:25 start times Saturday and Sunday.

WHAT’S ON TAP

Saturday

The stakes action gets started early at 11:26 a.m. at Woodbine with the $150,000 Toronto Cup and then later (1:25 p.m.) Billy Mott’s talented mare Mushka takes on former Canadian filly champion Ginger Brew in the $500,000 Dance Smartly Stakes. Belmont Park will be hosting the $500,000 Man O’War (1:12 p.m.) with the favourite Gio Ponti (Dominguez) followed closely in the morning line by Bobby Frankel’s Midships.

It’s a huge afternoon at Arlington Park as they offer $1 million in purses including four stakes races beginning at 12:07 p.m. Go west, young man, and you’ll find the rich Hollywood Gold Cup (4:30 p.m.) with 13 starters vying for the $700,000 purse at a mile and a quarter on the cushion track. Also on the program is the $250,000 Royal Heroine Stakes (5:30 p.m.) for fillies and mares on the grass.

Sunday

The major race of the day is the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown – the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes (2:22 p.m.) at a mile and three-sixteenths on the Fort Erie main track. The favourite is Plate winner Eye Of The Leopard (DaSilva) at 9-5 and next is the runner-up Mr. Foricos Two U with Mike Smith flying out to ride again. Third choice is the filly Milwaukee Appeal with Stewart Elliott. Also at Fort Erie, earlier on the card, B.C.-bred champion filly Dancing Allstar will compete in the $50,000 Ernie Samuel Memorial (12:12 p.m.) at five furlongs on the main track.

WIENERS HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE

Jot it down: Saturday, July 18 at Hastings Racecourse … the Wiener Dog Races. If you can believe it, there are 32 of the little sweethearts entered and eight more on the "also eligible" list. We’re not taking any more entries!

There will be four qualifying heats and a Final with $1,000 in purse money, presented by Hastings Racecourse and Maple Leaf Foods. These "doggies who are hot to trot" will run in 30-yard dashes at 1:44 p.m. and again at 4:15 p.m.