Commander shortens up for optional-claiming dash

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Commander doesn’t really want to sprint, but it is hard to look past him in a $50,000 optional-claiming race that will serve as the featured race Sunday at Hastings. The six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up drew eight horses and goes as race 7.

Trained by Troy Taylor, Commander is shortening up considerably after going unplaced Nov. 1 in the 1 3/4-mile, Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Santa Anita. He went into the Marathon off a win in the Grade 3, $100,000 Premiers Handicap at Hastings. It was his second straight win in the Premiers, and in 2012 and 2013, he dominated the older handicap division at Northlands Park.

In 2012, he went undefeated in four stakes at Northlands, including a score at six furlongs in the $50,000 Journal. Last year, after finishing third in the Journal Handicap, he was never really threatened in his three wins in Edmonton.

Commander seemed a bit dull this spring until he earned a bullet for his six-furlong move in 1:13.60 on April 26.

“He seems to be coming around,” Taylor said. “If he makes the lead, he’ll be tough to beat.”

Quincy Welch rides Commander, and without a lot of pure speed in the field, there’s a good chance Welch will be able to get him into the race early.

Taylor also will saddle Glenco Kid, and he actually likes the 4-year-old over Commander. Both horses are partly owned by Glen Todd, who races under North American Thoroughbred Horse Co.

“I bet Glen dinner that Glenco would beat Commander,” Taylor said.

“He’s the best horseman I know, but I’m not so sure about his handicapping skills,” Todd said.

Glenco Kid hasn’t raced since finishing fifth in the $50,000 Jim Coleman Province Stakes for 3-year-olds last May 12.

Casino Boss has some speed and won his last two sprints but will get a serious class test.

Hopeseeker won his debut sprinting, but his best race was a second-place finish in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby.

Wilo Kat, third to Commander in the Premiers, is like most of the horses in the field – he wants more distance.