B.C. Cat finds a more suitable spot

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - B.C. Cat will appreciate the move back to a sprint on Friday at Hastings after setting fast fractions in her fourth-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile B.C. Cup Dogwood here on Aug. 3. The first-level allowance race for fillies and mares drew nine horses and goes as the seventh race.

There is a clause in the conditions of 6 1/2-furlong race that allows B.C.-breds that have won two races to be eligible to the race.

B.C. Cat, trained by Gary Saitz, won a similar race on July 19, and if she runs back to her strong performance, she will be tough to handle. Her bullet four-furlong work on Aug. 16 is a good sign that she came out of the Dogwood in excellent shape.

"She couldn't be doing any better," said Saitz. "I thought she would have come back tired after the Dogwood, but she was jumping on her toes the next day. She just has one way of going - fast and faster. I just can't get her to slow down."

Keveh Nicholls rides B.C. Cat.

There is other speed in the field and it could set up nicely for Pretty Maid. Trained by Shauna Ferguson, Pretty Maid finished third, just behind B.C. Cat, in a similar race won by Ten Carrot Girl on July 5. In her latest start she ran an even race to finish fourth in the 1 1/8-mile B.C. Cup Distaff. In four starts going 6 1/2 furlongs Pretty Maid has never been out of the money. Her last win going any distance, however, was in June 2007. She looks like a better play underneath than on top.

Mario Gutirrez will be aboard Pretty Maid for the first time.

Lasting Spice could have upside potential. A 3-year-old homebred by Stephanotis, Lasting Spice has started only twice and she is coming off of a win in a maiden special weight race on July 5. Her dam, Spice Girl, was a sprint stakes winner and she also placed in the Grade 3 B.C. Oaks. Trained by Tracy McCarthy, Lasting Spice earned bullets for her four-furlong works on Aug. 2 and Aug. 6 and she appears to be primed for a big effort.

Quillo's Intention finished second to B.C. Cat on July 19 and then ran a dull race in the Dogwood. She gets in light at 102 pounds, and could be dangerous coming from off the pace with the leading apprentice Geovanni Franco in the irons.