C U At Eau Claire looks formidable in optional claimer

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Running in a non-stakes race for the second time since she was the runner-up in a maiden special weight at Hastings in 2015, C U At Eau Claire broke on top and never looked back in a $35,000 optional-claiming race for fillies and mares on June 17.

The five-time stakes winner looks formidable coming back in an optional-claiming race that will serve as Saturday’s feature.

The $35,000 claiming price for Saturday’s 6 1/2-furlong dash that drew six horses is the same as the race C U At Eau Claire won last time. However, the conditions are slightly different. The clause “horses which have not won $27,500 in 2017,” which allowed C U At Eau Claire to run last month, is not included in the conditions of Saturday’s race. That makes C U At Eau Claire eligible to be claimed for the first time in her career.

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After finishing second in her debut for trainer Greg Tracy and owner Don Danard, C U At Eau Claire reeled off three straight stakes wins as a 2-year-old. It looked as though she was on her way to stardom when she easily won her sophomore debut in the $55,000 Chariot Chaser at Northlands Park last year. However, she didn’t win again until her final start of the year, when she outclassed her opponents in the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes.

After going unplaced in her first three starts this year, Tracy and Danard were looking for class relief for the British Columbia-bred 4-year-old. They got the remedy they were looking for, and after C U At Eau Claire opened up a clear early lead, she was able to fend off Cherokee in Me and Sailingforthesun, who rallied late.

C U At Eau Claire has one way of going and undoubtedly will be put on the lead by Richard Hamel after breaking from the inside post.

KEY CONTENDERS

C U At Eau Claire, by Haynesfield
Last 3 Beyers: 72-68-50

◗ The speed of the speed is also the class of the party with earnings of $237,728. If she breaks alertly, she could be gone.

Colleen’s Diamond, by Rosberg
Last 3 Beyers: 52-68-61

◗ The Pat Jarvis trainee steadied early and then made a strong move to get into contention at the quarter pole before she understandably tired in her first start in more than a year.

◗ Prior to going on her long break, she was the runner-up to the local 2016 Horse of the Year, Snuggles, in the $50,000 Emerald Downs Handicap at Hastings. She had a decent half-mile interim work last Sunday, and it is easy to imagine her taking a big step forward with a race behind her.

Bonus Spin, by Hard Spun
Last 3 Beyers: 56-66-70

◗ Trained by Rosann Anderson, she was the runner-up in a similar race May 6 prior to going unplaced in a $40,000 optional claimer at Emerald Downs on June 4.