Concert Music tries to stay unbeaten

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Concert Music will put her undefeated record on the line Saturday at Hastings in the $50,000 Senate Appointee Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares.

The Senate Appointee, which goes as race 4 on an eight-race card, drew five horses, including Clair Annette, who is shipping up from Emerald Downs, where she used her good speed to win two stakes races last year.

Concert Music, trained by John Snow, will be a heavy favorite to win the Senate Appointee, however. She has been an impressive winner of both of her starts this year. Following her win in an optional $50,000 claiming race in her second start last year on May 19, Concert Music didn't make it back to the races until April. She returned with a vengeance, however, easily beating proven stakes winners in an optional $50,000 claiming race April 25.

Concert Music won the $50,000 Brighouse Belles in her last start and proved she is capable of overcoming adversity. With Fernando Perez aboard, Concert Music had to check sharply when she tried to sneak past Dancing Allstar along the rail at the half-mile mark. She had to regroup and when Dancing Allstar drifted a bit coming out of the stretch turn, she burst through the hole and immediately took control of the race.

Snow said he is pleased Concert Music drew the outside post, from where she figures to stalk the speedy Clair Annette.

"It is perfect," said Snow. "She has tremendous natural speed and she has proven she doesn't need the lead. She should just fall out of there and be sitting perfectly."

Perez retains the mount.

Clair Annette, trained by Connie Bouslaugh, will be making her second start of the year. She forced an honest pace before tiring to finish third behind No Flies on Doodle in the Hastings Park Handicap at Emerald on May 2. Last year, she led from start to finish in both the Hastings and Belle Roberts. She drew the rail and there isn't much doubt that Kevin Krigger will send her right to the front.

If a speed duel between Concert Music and Clair Annette does materialize, it would certainly help the chances of Kaweah Princess and Blue Sky Holiday.

Summer Song has also been entered but she wants more distance and this will be her first start of the year.