Curlish Figure among contender-filled field in Strawberry Morn Handicap

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Take your pick among the seven fillies and mares entered in the $50,000 Strawberry Morn Handicap on Saturday at Hastings.

They are all stakes winners, and it probably depends on which horse is ready take a step forward while stretching out to 1 1/16 miles for the first time this year. The only horse not coming off a sprint is Top Quality, who finished second in a one-mile second-level allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option April 28 at Golden Gate Fields.

Curlish Figure could be sitting on a big effort in her second start for trainer Craig MacPherson. In her first race this year and for MacPherson, she rallied to finish second in the $50,000 Vancouver Sun here May 21.

She was purchased last June by Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. with the specific goal of winning the $75,000 Shirley Vargo in July at Northlands Park. The race is named in honor of the late wife of Robert Vargo, who is a partner with Norm Castiglione in Riversedge.

With Rico Walcott riding for trainer Tim Rycroft, Curlish Figure came from a stalking position to win the 1 1/16-mile Shirley Vargo by 3 1/4 lengths. In her next start, she finished second in the $50,000 Duchess of York on July 29 and didn’t resurface until her solid performance in the Sun.

MacPherson was happy with her sharp interim six-furlong move in 1:12.00 on June 6.

“She ran a good race coming off the layoff, and that was a nice work for her,” he said. “She galloped out strongly, and her best races have been going long, so I expect her to run a good race in what seems like an even event.”

Curlish Figure will break from post 6 with David Lopez picking up the mount from Aaron Gryder.

Gryder rides Top Quality in the Strawberry Morn. Prior to her runner-up finish at Golden Gate, she finished third in the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks here Sept. 9.

KEY CONTENDERS

Curlish Figure, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 77-62-75

◗ She looked great in her work, and with her tactical speed she should be able to stay close to what figures to be a moderate pace.

Touching Promise, by Touch Gold

Last 3 Beyers: 76-76-74

◗ Trained by Barbara Heads, the two-time Grade 3 Ballerina winner came back with a strong race in the Vancouver Sun after racing just once last year.

◗ The 8-year-old homebred owned by Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Bennett had a couple of sharp interim works, and if she breaks alertly from her outside post with Amadeo Perez riding she will be the one they will have to run down.

Top Quality, by Quality Road

Last 3 Beyers: 72-69-78

◗ Her first start as a 4-year-old was a good one, and it easy to imagine her taking a big step forward for trainer Blaine Wright who has couple of wins and two seconds from four starts in stakes races at Hastings this year.