Class relief for Absolutely Stylish, Bistraya in allowance

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The irresistible aroma of mini-doughnuts being deep fried will be a welcomed relief from the smell of smoke that has been shrouding Vancouver the past week due to nearby forest fires.

Yes, beginning Saturday, it is PNE time again, and in addition to overpriced food at the annual fair – the doughnuts are worth it – and track workers feeling claustrophobic with the temporary fence built around the facility, there is a change to the racing schedule. Hastings sits on the Pacific National Exhibition site, and due to insufficient parking, mostly on Saturdays and Sundays, the track picks up the slack by allowing cars to be parked in the infield.

Beginning this weekend, Sundays will be replaced by Mondays until Sept. 8. First post on Mondays is 6 p.m. Pacific. Canada’s Labor Day, on Wednesday, Sept. 5, will take the place of the last Monday of the fair.

Friday’s featured first race is an allowance race for 3-year-olds and up that has a $25,000 optional-claiming condition. It goes as the first race and is not part of the late pick four, which has a $10,000-guaranteed pool.

Absolutely Stylish will appreciate the class relief on Friday after dueling through sprint-like fractions and fading to eighth in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Classic on Aug. 6. Toss out the race and focus on his runner-up finish in an allowance race for nonwinners of three on July 15, and he looks like the one to beat in the 1 1/16-mile race, which drew five horses.

A Phil Hall-trained 4-year-old, Absolutely Stylish will break from the rail with Enrique Gonzalez riding.

KEY CONTENDERS

Absolutely Stylish, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 47-77-63

◗ He likely will be the one they have to run down, but he sat just off the speed when he finished second in a solid effort in his first start here July 15. If Ace Deuce is intent on gunning for the lead from his outside post, Gonzalez should be able to ease Absolutely Stylish into a stalking position.

Bistraya, by Haynesfield
Last 3 Beyers: 76-57-76

◗ The Rob Gilker-trained 5-year-old also will appreciate the easier company while running in a non-stakes race for the first time since he arrived at Hastings last year. He is coming off a sixth-place finish in the $50,000 Lieutenant Governor’s on July 15, but he worked a sharp half-mile Aug. 6 and could pick up the pieces if Absolutely Stylish and Ace Deuce get carried away early.

◗ He will break from post 2 with leading rider Amadeo Perez aboard.

Ace Deuce, by Lewis Michael
Last 3 Beyers: 72-72-64

◗ The versatile 7-year-old is coming off back-to-back front-running wins for trainer Barbara Heads – the latest for $16,000 – and it will be interesting to see if jockey Denis Araujo hustles him early or lets him sit just off Absolutely Stylish.