'Biscay' eyes third straight

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Biscay Appeal tries to win his third straight race when he tackles five other older horses in the fourth race at Hastings Sunday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for $15,000 claimers appears to be a wide-open event.

Biscay Appeal, who is trained by Terry Clyde, displayed a lot of heart in his latest win in a similar race July 2. Biscay Appeal was sitting a close second heading into the first turn but dropped back to third in the run down the backstretch. It looked like he might be finished when Diamond Terner swooped by him on the stretch turn, but he bravely fought back while going four wide and beat Diamond Terner by a neck.

It's a bit surprising that Pedro Alvardo abandons Biscay Appeal to ride Rampoldi, who is dropping in class following a dull performance in a $20,000 claiming sprint July 8. Mario Gutierrez has picked up the mount on Biscay Appeal.

Presumption could be the sleeper. Trained by Dave Milburn, Presumption finished last in a $20,000 claiming race July 16. At face value the race looks like a pretty dull performance. But it might be worth ignoring because Presumption likes to be on or near the lead, and after getting away poorly he was pretty much out of contention.

Agro won five races last year and he could be coming up to a big race. He made up over 11 lengths from the half-mile call to finish a close third behind Biscay Appeal and he's had a couple of very sharp four-furlong works since.