Choreography ready to go off long layoff in Friday allowance
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Owner-trainer Glen Todd is confident he has Choreography primed to run a big race Friday night at Hastings. If he is right, the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred could be a handful in an allowance race for 3- and 4-year-olds that have never won three races. The 6 1/2-furlong dash drew eight horses and goes as race 6 on a seven-race card that begins at 7 p.m. Pacific.
Choreography will be making his first start since he won a first-level allowance race at Emerald Downs on June 23, 2018. He set fast interior fractions and held on to win the 6 1/2-furlong dash by a neck over Wheel Rally.
It was his third start at Emerald and fourth overall. He began his career with a fourth-place finish in a $30,000 optional maiden claimer at Turf Paradise and then romped in a maiden special weight race at Emerald.
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Following his easy win he finished 10th after chasing a fast pace while going six wide in the $50,000 Auburn Stakes.
Todd likes the way he is coming into Friday’s race.
“He was ready to run opening day but he bucked his shins,” he said. “Can you imagine a 4-year-old bucking his shins? He’s dead fit and couldn’t be going any better.”
His five-furlong work in 59.80 seconds on June 26 is a good indication Todd is correct in his assessment.
Choreography will break from post 7 with Denny Velazquez riding.
KEY CONTENDERS
Choreography, by Discreet Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 59-40-72
◗ He showed plenty of promise as a 3-year-old and has been working like a bear leading up to his first start at Hastings.
◗ He is the speed of the speed and could be tough to reel in if he breaks on top. If not, he drew a good post from where Velazquez should be able to put him in a good spot early.
Slew’s Da Boss, by Cause to Believe
Last 3 Beyers: 68-71-59
◗ The Mel Snow-trained 4-year-old is clearly the horse to beat. He came from a stalking position to win a similar race June 9 and rallied from well back to finish second going 1 1/16 miles at this level July 6.
◗ He won’t mind the move back to a sprint, plus the shape of the race should work in his favor.
Burningham hurt in spill
Jockey Jeff Burningham is out for the rest of the meet due to injuries he sustained when he came off Proud Cause, who clipped heels in the fifth race Sunday. Due to a multitude of injuries, Burningham, 47, has had a stop-and-go career.
“He broke his shoulder, some ribs, punctured his lung, and broke his L3,” said his wife, Lacie Burningham, who works in the Hastings racing office. “He had surgery [Tuesday]. They took some of his old stuff out and put in new. The surgeon said the new stuff can come out in about six months. It seemed to go very well.”