Ascot Graduation will test stamina of the top local juveniles
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When Hastings announced its 2025 stakes schedule, the idea was to have four sets of gender-restricted stakes for 2-year-olds during the meet. Only twice have things gone according to plan.
On Aug. 4, the BC Nursery and BC Debutante were combined into a single 6 1/2-furlong Nursery when the Debutante failed to attract enough female nominees. On Aug. 25, the genders were separated in a pair of CTHS Sales Stakes run at the same distance.
Dino Condilenios and Barb Heads saddled the top two finishers, Karensnotimpressed and Sunny Wishes, on Sept. 20 in the $75,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs. Debrusk won that day’s Jack Diamond Futurity.
The Sadie Diamond marked a rematch of the female division of the CTHS Sales Stakes, in which Sunny Wishes bested Karensnotimpressed by three lengths.
The young ladies will get their rubber match on Saturday in the $50,000 Glen Todd Ascot Graduation at 1 1/16 miles. Only this time, instead of taking on a field of fillies, they’ll be forced to square off against a quartet of males.
Hastings planned to separate the genders in two stakes, the Glen Todd Fantasy and the Glen Todd Ascot, but wound up combining them due to a dearth of worthy female candidates.
“At the sales this year, I didn’t even look at fillies. It’s kind of sad, but it is what it is,” said Condilenios. “This is the second filly stakes they’ve canceled. It’s not fair to any filly. Sunny Wishes is in the same boat.”
Condilenios had to run Karensnotimpressed against males in the Nursery on Aug. 4, where she finished third to two male stablemates. The runner-up was Debrusk, who is sure to go off favored Saturday after his Jack Diamond Futurity win, in which he earned a career- and field-best 63 Beyer Speed Figure.
Running exclusively in Hastings stakes, Debrusk is 2 for 3 and went gate to wire in his victories, using a running style that surprised his trainer.
“I don’t think he needs the lead,” said Condilenios. “I think he’s gotten the lead by default. Quite honestly, I’m shocked he’s been showing as much speed, because he hasn’t struck me as a speed horse. He’s really laid-back.”
Where Debrusk is placed during Saturday’s race “depends on Sunny Wishes, what she does, because she’s pretty quick,” Condilenios added. “I’m sure she’ll be on her toes, and you can’t let her get away.”
As for Karensnotimpressed, Condilenios said he “couldn’t be happier” with how she came out of her Sadie Diamond win.
“This horse just keeps getting better,” he said. “I really don’t think distance is going to be an issue for her.”
The Authentic colt Helioo is the only entrant who has raced longer than 6 1/2 furlongs. He won a maiden race in his Hastings debut at six furlongs on Sept. 21 for trainer Mel Snow after missing the board going seven and 7 1/2 furlongs for Bill Mott.
“I finished second to him with Genie’s Ride,” recalled Condilenios. “He was pretty impressive. The time of the race wasn’t super fast, but he ran professionally. I know he’s a decently bred horse. I respect him a lot.
"The colt I ran second to him with is probably not as good a horse as, say, Debrusk at this stage, so it’s hard to kind of gauge.”
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