Amber Moon in right spot for third win
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Amber Moon may have found the right spot to get her third win and her first sprinting when she runs in a $16,000 claiming race that will serve as the featured race at Hastings on Sunday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares drew seven horses and goes as race 6 on an eight-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.
Trained by Barbara Heads, Amber Moon hasn’t won in more than a year. Her second win came in a one-mile starter race on Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 21, 2015. She also won a maiden special weight race on dirt going 1 1/16 miles at Oak Tree at Pleasanton in 2014. She performed well at Hastings last year, though, finishing third in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Distaff and then fourth in the Delta Colleen and Grade 3 Ballerina in her final three starts in Vancouver.
In her first start since the Ballerina, she was the runner-up behind Dear Lilly in an optional $25,000 claiming race June 18. She came from a stalking position in the 6 1/2-furlong dash, and with Dawselina and Fire Beauty in the field Sunday, she should have an honest and contested pace to work with.
Antonia Reyes picks up the mount from Denis Araujo, who moves to Dawselina.
Trained by Rosann Anderson, Dawselina will be making her first start since she finished fourth after setting the pace in the B.C. Cup Distaff last Aug. 21. As a 3-year-old, Dawselina used her good speed to win back-to-back stakes in 2014 before finishing third in the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks. The speed of the speed, she drew the rail and could be gone if she breaks on top.
KEY CONTENDERS
Amber Moon, by Finality
Last 3 Beyes: 75-73-74
◗ She has never won sprinting, but she finished full of run in her first start of the year, and the shape of the race should work for her.
Dawselina, by Skimming
Last 3 Beyers: 62-78-70
◗ She can fire fresh and has been working like she’s ready for a big effort coming off the bench.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Anderson has won with three of her nine starters who were coming off a layoff of 180 days or more.
Fire Beauty, by Skimming
Last 3 Beyers: 70-68-77
◗ Trained by Mike Anderson, she romped at this level in her first start of the year with leading rider Richard Hamel aboard. She is reunited with Hamel after finishing fourth in a $50,000 optional claimer May 21 and fourth again in the same race that Amber Moon exits.