Bluegrass Angus impresses in Chris Loseth Handicap

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Bluegrass Angus was very impressive in winning the $50,000 Chris Loseth Handicap at Hastings on Wednesday. Stretching out to a middle distance for the first time, he paid $4.90 for his three-length win over 63-1 shot Brother Duster in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds.

With Richard Hamel aboard, he broke sharply from the outside post in the 12-horse field and settled in behind a quick pace set by Every Nites a Blur. When Hamel gave him his cue approaching the quarter pole, he quickly opened up on the field. He took a four-length lead into the stretch and was under wraps for the final sixteenth. Brother Duster rallied to get up for second, and Merlot came from far back to finish a nonthreatening third.

“I had to use him early to avoid getting hung out wide on the first turn,” said Hamel. “It took me about three furlongs to get him off the bit. He settled nicely though, and he has a real turn of foot. He got a little tired, but he won the race on the turn, and I didn’t feel a need to push him late.”

The final time was 1:44.28.

Bluegrass Angus is trained by Craig MacPherson. Purchased for $5,000 at Keeneland in 2013, Bluegrass Angus has earned $94,350 for owner Chad Joe, who races under the stable name Copper Water Thoroughbred Company.

Morning Coffee wins Supernaturel

Making her first start at Hastings for trainer Roseann Anderson, Morning Coffee upset the $50,000 Supernaturel for 3-year-old fillies. She paid $12.80 for her 2 3/4-length win over Quatre Cat.

Morning Coffee, ridden by Pedro Alvarado, went three wide around the first turn before emerging with the lead coming out of the turn. She opened up a clear lead after six furlongs and easily held off Quatre Cat in the stretch. Running like a horse who needed a race, the favored Majestic Presence rallied to finish third. It was her first start since she finished second in an $80,000 optional-claiming race at Santa Anita on April 17.

“I really didn’t want to move that early, but when we got pressure from the outside, my horse just took off,” said Alvarado. “She just dragged me around there. That was pretty impressive.”

The final time was 1:44.98.