Dat Day to stay up close in Ascot Graduation

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Dat Day looms the one to beat in the $75,000 Ascot Graduation at Hastings on Sunday. It is a wide-open race, though, with all nine 2-year-olds entered stretching out to 1 1/16 miles and going around three turns for the first time.

Post time for the first of seven races is 1:50 p.m. Pacific, with the Ascot going as race 6.

Trained by Craig MacPherson, Dat Day showed some promise when he finished third going 3 1/2 furlongs in his debut June 23. He came back with another solid race going around two turns in a six-furlong maiden special weight race on July 14, coming from midpack to miss by a nose to Move On.

Following a short break, Dat Day returned Sept. 8 in the $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity, and he was more aggressive early while winning the 6 1/2-furlong race by a half-length over Arranger.

MacPherson is expecting a strong effort in Dat Day’s first route attempt.

“I think he will enjoy going long,” said MacPherson. “He looks and acts like a horse that will get the distance, and he’s by New Year’s Day, who also sired Day Raider.”

Day Raider won the $50,000 Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial at Hastings and finished a fast-closing second going 1 3/8 miles in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Northlands for MacPherson.

“I also like the way he showed more speed in the Futurity,” said MacPherson. “He dogged Arranger the whole way, so I don’t think he’ll get too far behind Sunday.”

Dat Day drew post 8 and will be ridden by Antonio Reyes, who rode him for the first time in the Futurity.

KEY CONTENDERS

Dat Day, by New Year’s Day
Last 3 Beyers: 59-36-34

◗ He appears to be peaking at the right time, and being a half-brother to a couple of route winners, he should get the distance.

◗ MacPherson was hoping to work Dat Day last weekend, but didn’t want to work him over a wet track, so he is bringing the Canyon Farms homebred into the race with “longer, slower gallops.”

“I hope he has enough air to get there,” said MacPherson.

Explode, by Trappe Shot
Last 3 Beyers: 69-41-34

◗ Trained by Mark Cloutier, the Kentucky-bred gelding will be trying stakes company for the first time, but he does own the best Beyer Speed Figure in the field. Being out of a mare who won going 1 7/8 miles in Britain, he has the pedigree to get the distance.

Stay Fantastic, by Stay Thirsty
Beyers: 39-37

◗ He rallied to win his debut in Explode’s second start and then had a rough trip in the Jack Diamond Futurity.

◗ A half-brother to five route winners, he is trained by Mike Anderson, who over the past five years has a 33 percent strike rate and a $3.01 ROI with horses going a mile or longer for the first time.