Carryover adds allure to tricky pick five sequence
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – There is a decent feature race Wednesday evening at Hastings, a second-level allowance race with a $35,000 claiming option that kicks off the seven-race card that begins at 6 p.m. Pacific. Any of the five horses entered could win the 6 1/2-furlong dash.
More important is the $22,325 carryover in the pick five that begins on the second race. There is a $1 minimum, and it is not a jackpot wager so there can be more than one winning ticket. It is a tough sequence, but a ticket can be built around Got My Mo, who will be a short price to win race 3.
It is hard to take a firm stand on any of the horses in race 2. Trainer Craig MacPherson has five horses entered in the maiden special weight for 2-year-olds and will likely scratch Dat Day, and possibly one of the others, to run in Saturday’s $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity. The Futurity is one of three $100,000 stakes that will support the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby.
“I might also run Day Flyer in the Futurity,” MacPherson said. “The one I like the best of the rest is Purple Storm.”
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Purple Storm is a first-time starter by the excellent debut sire Storm Victory.
Of the race 2 entrants Wednesday that have started, Explode, trained by Mark Cloutier, will be the one they have to catch. Whiskey Bound and Irish Charlie will be rolling late.
In race 3, it is hard to go past Got My Mo who is taking a substantial drop into a $4,000 claimer for nonwinners of two after he chased Papa Papa Papa through rapid fractions in a quickly run $16,000 claimer for the same condition Aug. 20. Papa Papa Papa looks like a serious threat in the day’s first race.
Race 4 is a wide-open event with Salzburg, Sargent Rick, and Royal Briar being the main protagonists. Heartset and City Steel also should be given some consideration.
Race 5 is restricted to horses that have not finished first, second, or third at the meet. Horses that finished in second or third for the same condition are allowed to run.
Free and Fast is a mare facing males, but she owns the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure and is stretching out to 1 1/16 miles, which is her best distance.
Halo’s Quest also is moving to his best distance, and he could be tough to reel in if he breaks alertly from his inside post. Laguna Blaze and Killarney Kid also could win if they show up with their best stuff.
Race 6, a 1 1/16-mile event for $4,000 claimers that drew nine horses, is a crap shoot. Etailer should appreciate the shape of the race; Alpha Uno could rebound after bouncing in his latest; Santa Fe Trail could be dangerous with blinkers coming off; Brother Brian, who owns the best last-race Beyer, won’t mind the move to a route after just missing going 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 24.
