With seven mounts Saturday and seven more Sunday, Amadeo Perez is off to a hectic start this season at Hastings Racecourse.
Heading into the weekend, Perez is leading the jockey standings with six wins, two seconds and six third-place finishes after 23 starts. One of those victories was of the upset variety in the $50,000 Ross McLeod last Saturday aboard Ole’s Miss owned by Ole Nielsen of Canmor Farms and trained by Tracy McCarthy.
Perez was saluted as Top Rider at Hastings following the 2012 season but was nipped in 2013 final standings by Enrique Gonzalez. Obviously, Perez has designs on reclaiming the title.
SACRED DELIGHT TACKLES OLDER FILLIES & MARES
Winner of three races last season as a 3-year-old, Sacred Delight faces older fillies and mares for the first time in Saturday’s feature. Trained by Rosann Anderson, Sacred Delight makes her 2014 debut as one of the co-favourites along with Suances Flower, trained by Jim Brown, who is coming off wins at Golden Gate and Turf Paradise.
The Sunday Mother’s Day feature is a $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up with eight starters in the sixth race. Golden Triumph is the morning line choice after taking a big drop following his very brisk fractions for trainer Dino Condilenios in the George Royal on opening day (April 27).
OUR VERY OWN ‘JEWEL’ GUEST DECORATOR IN SEATTLE
Jewel Kositsky, Regional Manager, Guest Services and HPI at Hastings Racecourse, will be the Guest Decorator Sunday at Emerald Downs for the 19th running of the $50,000 Hastings Handicap for older fillies and mares. Jewel offered a quick “no comment” when asked if she would be nervous with the knowledge that fans at Hastings will be watching Sunday on the live simulcast network.