Alvarado takes best guess

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- A clear sign that 2-year-old racing at Hastings has started in earnest is seeing track announcer Dan Jukich seriously studying his Spanish dictionary. Jukich will once again be challenged in correctly calling babies owned and trained by Juan Olmos. If the past two years are any indication, Jukich will be also be calling Nezahualcoyotl in front and widening.

Olmos trained the champion 2-year-olds at Hastings in 2008, El Sinaloense, and 2009, Huitzilopochtli. He has entered Nezahualcoyotl and Chac Mool in Saturday's second race, a maiden event at 3 1/2 furlongs that drew seven horses. According to jockey Pedro Alvarado, who does a lot of work with the babies in Olmos's barn, they both can run. Alvarado is hoping he made the right decision by riding Nezahualcoyotl. He was correct in 2008 with El Sinaloense. Last year, he chose Mucho Verde over Huitzilopochtli and Huitzilopochtli went on to win five straight races, including four stakes, with Fernando Perez aboard.

"That was a bad move," said Alvarado. "I hope I'm right this time. They both can run and it probably depends on which one breaks the best."

Both horses are by good win early sires and have worked very well leading up to their debuts. Chac Mool is by Yes It's True, who is 40 for 271 with first-time starting 2-year-olds. The other one, Nezahualcoyotl, is by Joey Franco, who is 2 for 8 with first-time starters, but 0 for 3 with babies.

The approximate pronunciation is "Neza-howl-coyotl." He is named after a philosopher king who ruled Texcoco in pre-Columbian Mexico in the 15th century.

Isaias Cardenas will ride Chac Mool.

Leading trainer Troy Taylor likes the way Grievance is coming up to her debut. Grievance is a Kentucky-bred filly by Pleasant Tap. Taylor won the only 2-year-old race at the meet with Mr. Instigator on May 9.

"She can run a bit but Juan is the best 2-year-old trainer here and he has two in there that are supposed to be quick," said Taylor.

Timeforacoldone picked things up in his final prep, a four-furlong move in 47.60 seconds with Amadeo Perez aboard for trainer Tracy McCarthy. McCarthy's husband, Chris Loseth, the all-time leading rider at Hastings, was impressed with Timeforacoldone's latest move.

"We were thinking of running him for $20,000 but he changed our mind in a hurry with his last work," said Loseth.