Hastings: Glenco Kid should appreciate pace in Ascot Graduation

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – What figures to be a lively pace could benefit Glenco Kid when he makes his first start at Hastings in the $75,000 Ascot Graduation on Sunday. The 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds drew nine horses and headlines the 10-race closing-day card, which includes the $75,000 Fantasy for 2-year-old fillies.

Glenco Kid is coming off a sixth-place finish in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity at Arlington Park Sept. 8, and he will appreciate the substantially easier company he is facing in the Ascot. The winner of the Futurity, Pataky Kid, came back to finish a close fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 6.

A half-brother to Military, who won the Grade 1 Oak Tree Turf Championship in 1998, Glenco Kid will be making his first start on dirt. Trainer Troy Taylor likes the way he is coming up to the race.

“He was reportedly full of mucus when he came back from his race in Chicago,” said Taylor. “He seems to handle the track here just fine, and he is doing very well right now.”

Mario Gutierrez rides Glenco Kid.

Proud Victor and Tracker both have excellent speed, and it will be interesting to see how the race develops.

Proud Victor was an easy winner of the $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity in his last start and came back with a sensational five-furlong work in 58.80 seconds Oct. 7. He is out of a mare who won going long, and his only sibling is also a route winner.

“I really don’t know if he’ll be able to carry his speed a mile and a sixteenth, but it seems like he can go fast and keep going,” said trainer Greg Tracy. “I guess it all depends on how the race sets up.”

Pedro Alvarado, who will retire with more than 3,000 wins following Sunday’s card, rides Proud Victor.

Trainer Barbara Heads is hoping Tracker will avoid dueling with Proud Victor. Tracker is coming off an impressive 9 3/4-length win in a first-level allowance race going 6 1/2 furlongs Sept. 22.

“He has a lot of a natural speed but I don’t think he needs to be on the lead,” said Heads.

Stoneridge Gold, Step Up, and North Pacific rallied to finish within a half-length of each other in Stoneridge Gold’s win in a $40,000 optional maiden claiming race going 1 1/16 miles Sept. 22 and could be dangerous if the speed gets carried away up front.

Fantasy: Ten Thirty looks good for long run

Greg Tracy may not be sure about Proud Victor getting a middle distance, but he is very confident Ten Thirty will thrive going around three turns for the first time in the Fantasy.

Ten Thirty beat Tracker in a $40,000 optional maiden claiming race here July 28 and then shipped to Northlands Park where she romped by 8 3/4 lengths in the $50,000 Bird of Pay on Aug. 31.

“She is just waiting to become a 3-year-old, where I am sure she will be a very good horse going long,” said Tracy.

I Want to Dust came from last to win the $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity, and being a full sister to multiple route stakes winner Excited Miss and Ascot Graduation winner Too Much Dirt, she shouldn’t have any trouble stretching out to a middle distance.

“She sure trains like a horse that wants to go a distance of ground,” said her trainer, Lenore Dubois.

Emerald Downs invaders Madame Pele and Innocent Love faced each other in the $49,000 Barbara Shinpoch, with Innocent Love finishing second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Madame Pele. Innocent Love drew the outside post, though, and Madame Pele figures to get a ground-saving trip leaving from the rail.