Bearrock N Roll returns to sprinting in Sunday claimer

A winner of six straight races last year, Bearrock N Roll will be trying to get another streak going when he runs in a $16,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up Sunday at Hastings. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew eight horses and appears to be a wide-open event.

Trained by Craig MacPherson, the 10-year-old Bearrock N Roll is a better horse going a middle distance at this stage in his career, and in his most recent start, he looked good, winning a 1 1/16-mile, $16,000 claiming race July 1 for his only win this year.

He still is a capable sprinter, though. In 2014, five of his seven wins were at 1 1/16 miles, but he began the meet with a win going six furlongs and got the last win of his streak in a 6 1/2-furlong, $16,000 claiming race.

Bearrock N Roll can stalk and could get a nice trip sitting just off an honest pace with usual rider Richard Hamel aboard.

Hopeseeker is an interesting possibility. He will be making his first start this year and has been working like he means business.

The Carl Lausten trainee was particularly impressive when he worked 6 1/2 furlongs out of the gate in 1:19.40 on July 12. The 2013 British Columbia Derby runner-up still is eligible for a non-winners-of-two allowance but is dropping to a new low, and it is encouraging to see last year’s leading rider, Amadeo Perez, accept the call.

Its Finally Friday won’t mind the move back to a sprint and will be making his first start since being haltered by trainer Anita Bolton, who has had a lot of success with recent claims.

Key contenders

Bearrock N Roll (Last 3 Beyers: 66-60-73)

* The classy Kentucky-bred knows how to win and could get the perfect trip.

DRF Formulator fact: Over the past five years, MacPherson has a 21 percent strike rate with horses coming back in 31 to 60 days. The bad news is he hasn’t won with the last 11 coming back in the same time period who also were going from a route to a sprint.

Its Finally Friday (Last 3 Beyers: 61-71-71)

* He set the pace in Bearrock N Roll’s latest win, and considering that all three of his wins came going 6 1/2 furlongs, he could thrive with the cutback in distance.

Spirit River (Last 3 Beyers: 70-69-64)

* Trained by Charlene Miller, the speed of the speed will get tested for class after winning a quickly run $16,000 conditional-claiming race June 20.