Ballerina local swan song for Madeira Park

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Madeira Park will try to make amends for her loss as the heavy favorite in the Delta Colleen when she makes her final start at Hastings in the Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina on Monday. Madeira Park also will be shooting for her second straight win in the 1 1/8-mile Ballerina, which drew seven fillies and mares.

The Ballerina might not be the last race for Madeira Park, who will be bred next year. According to her trainer, Dave Forster, she is a possibility for the Grade 2, $200,000 Falls City at Churchill Downs on Nov. 27. A 5-year-old multiple stakes winner, Madeira Park has earned $310,910.

“If she runs a big race in the Ballerina, we’ll probably bring her back for one more race,” said Forster. “We would only run her at Churchill if she was doing exceptionally well, though.”

Madeira Park had won three straight races before finishing third to Locket in the $50,000 Delta Colleen. She has tactical speed and should get a nice trip from a stalking position with Rico Walcott aboard.

There is rain forecast for the weekend, and if it comes up wet, the advantage could go to Locket, who won the only time she ran over a sloppy track.

Trained by Frank Barroby, Locket was impressive in her win in the Delta Colleen and has had a couple of sharp works in the interim. Barroby likes the way she is coming into the race, and it won’t bother him if the weather forecast is correct.

“She just loves a wet track,” said Barroby. “I think they’ll all be in trouble if it rains.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Madeira Park (Last 3 Beyers: 79-75-82)

◗ She was giving Locket seven pounds when she finished third in the Delta Colleen, and they will be running on equal terms in the weight-for-age Ballerina.

Locket (Last 3 Beyers: 86-67-73)

◗ She is a bounce candidate after earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure in the Delta Colleen.

Ole’s Miss (Last 3 Beyers: 78-76-76)

◗ Trained by Tracy McCarthy, she is coming off a narrow win in the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks.

◗ She should be heard from late.

Madame Pele (Last 3 Beyers: 75-77-76)

◗ She should be full of confidence following an easy win over Washington-breds in the $50,000 Pegasus Training Center at Emerald Downs on Sept. 7.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, her Emerald Downs-based trainer, Jim Penney, has a 32 percent strike rate with horses running at Hastings.