Alert Bay will have hands full with elders in Premiers

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – British Columbia Derby winner Alert Bay figures to be favored in the Grade 3, $100,000 Premiers for 3-year-olds and up Monday at Hastings. But he could be vulnerable facing older horses for the first time in the 1 3/8-mile race, which drew nine horses.

Trained by Anita Bolton, Alert Bay is coming off a sharp win over Koffee Grinder in the B.C. Derby, but being by City Zip, who earned most of his $888,225 sprinting, he might have a hard time handling a marathon distance.

Jockey Rico Walcott figures to have Alert Bay sitting in a stalking position early, and Bolton is confident he will be able to get the distance.

Prohibition is worth a look at what could be a decent price. In his only start outside of the East Coast of the U.S., he finished seventh in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile in August for trainer Mike Puhich. Prohibition will make his first start for trainer Troy Taylor on Monday, and he couldn’t have been more impressive when he worked a mile in 1:38.00 with Alex Bisono aboard Sept. 28 at Hastings.

A New York-bred winner of six races, his fourth-place finish behind the first-place Zivo in the $200,000 Commentator Handicap at Belmont in his last start in New York points to him as a strong possibility in the Premier’s. Zivo came back to win the Grade 2 Suburban and recently finished second in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.

Taylor also entered Mr. Bowling, who has won both of his races at Hastings, including the S. W. Randall Plate in his last start.

“I don’t know if Mr. Bowling can go this far,” said Taylor. “The way Prohibition worked, it looks like he’ll be able to run all day. He is doing extremely well right now.”

Mario Gutierrez retains the mount on Mr. Bowling, and Bisono rides Prohibition.

KEY CONTENDERS

Alert Bay (Last 3 Beyers: 89-84-87)

◗ He owns the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure in the field.

◗ He sheds seven pounds off of his convincing win in the B.C. Derby.

Prohibition (Last 3 Beyers: (82-91-98)

◗ He has speed but doesn’t need the lead and could get a nice trip sitting just off the pace-setting Mysterious Soul, who doesn’t figure to last.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Taylor has a 24 percent strike rate with horses coming back in 31 to 60 days that are making their first start for him.

Koffee Grinder (Last 3 Beyers: 86-76-88)

◗ Trained by Craig MacPherson, his strong late move came up short in the B.C. Derby, but he should relish the added distance of the Premier’s.