Aspen Getaway, Ole's Miss win Hastings stakes

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Joe Steiner gave Aspen Getaway ($16.60) a flawless ride to win the $50,000 Jim Coleman Province at Hastings on Saturday.

After spending all day obtaining the proper permits to ride in Canada, Steiner made it to Hastings just in time to guide Aspen Getaway to a 1 1/2-length win over Tempest. Richter Red rallied to finish third.

Aspen Getaway broke alertly from his inside post and sat just off the 8-5 favorite, Song of Victory, who set interior fractions of 22.24 seconds and 45.54 in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint. Aspen Getaway moved up to challenge Song of Victory approaching the quarter pole, took over the lead on the second turn, and easily repelled the late bid from Tempest. Song of Victory tired to finish in a dead heat with Confisio for fifth.

“That was a long day, but it worked out nicely,” said Steiner, who has won 964 races in his career. “I really want to get to 1,000, and I am hoping to get on some nice horses here. “

The final time was 1:17.15.

Aspen Getaway is trained by Anita Bolton and owned by Peter Redekop. They also won the $50,000 George Royal on opening day last Sunday with Title Contender.

In the co-featured $50,000 Ross McLeod, Ole’s Miss took advantage of a hotly contested pace to upset the heavily favored Arabella’s Muse in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies. She paid $18.90.

Amadeo Perez was content to let Ole’s Miss lag behind the field while Arabella’s Muse was involved with Chu and You and Two Pump through extremely fast fractions of 21.76 and 44.85. Ole’s Miss made a four-wide move on the stretch turn, collared Arabella’s Muse inside the sixteenth pole, and got up in the final stride to win by a neck. Architecture finished third.

The final time was 1:17.16.

“I thought we had a good chance of winning when we turned for home,” said Perez.

Ole’s Miss is trained by Tracy McCarthy and owned by Ole Nielsen of Canmor Farms.