Daz Lin Dawn, Fall At Last stand out in Victoria Day stakes

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Two $50,000 stakes races for 3-year-olds kick off Monday’s Victoria Day card at Hastings, and in both the Ross McLeod for fillies in the first race and the Jim Coleman Province, there are formidable favorites.

Daz Lin Dawn enters the Ross McLeod off an 8 3/4-length romp in her first start this year in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Dogwood; she ran faster than the boys did in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Stellar’s Jay two races later.

Fall At Last was much the best in an open allowance race April 23; the 77 Beyer Speed Figure he received stands out in the Province.

Both races drew five horses and will be contested over 6 1/2 furlongs. First post for the eight-race holiday card is 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Daz Lin Dawn, trained by Nancy Betts, couldn’t have been more impressive in the Dogwood. With Richard Hamel aboard, she appeared to be well within herself while forcing an honest pace. She started to edge clear at the quarter pole and was well in command while being ridden out late.

Daz Lin Dawn, who was pulled up in her debut going 3 1/2 furlongs and was the runner-up going 1 1/16 miles in the $75,000 Fantasy, is perfect in two-turn sprints. Betts is expecting another strong performance Monday.

“She is a huge filly at over 17 hands, and she really grew into herself over the winter,” Betts said. “She was a bit discombobulated last year, but she’s really matured.”

Betts was pleased with Daz Lin Dawn’s five-furlong breeze in 1:01 on May 10 with Hamel aboard.

“Richard said she felt better than ever,” Betts said. “I think she should run just as well. She’s a bit weird with her leads, but when she gets tired on one, she’ll switch.”

Daz Lin Dawn will break from the outside post under Hamel.

Yukon Belle, trained by Barbara Heads, was the champion 2-year-old filly in the province last year and should move forward after finishing third in the Dogwood. She wasn’t going to beat the winner, but she did have an excuse as she was too sharp for her own good and was on heels going into the first turn with Antonio Reyes aboard. Enrique Gonzalez replaces Reyes, who recently was injured while pulling up a horse following a workout.

◗ Fall At Last, trained by Greg Tracy, has one loss in four starts, and his combined margin of victory in his three wins is 33 lengths. In his first start at Hastings going six furlongs, he won an open allowance race by 7 1/2 lengths on April 23. In his only loss, he opened up a clear lead but tired late to lose the $48,000 Birdcatcher at Northlands Park by a neck to Xtrema Lyra.

Tracy also trains Rock Victor, who won the B.C. Cup Stellar’s Jay. Rock Victor is being pointed to the $50,000 Western Canada on May 27.

“I would have to rate Fall At Last higher than Rock Victor,” Tracy said. “When he stopped in the Birdcatcher, I thought he bled, and I had him scoped. It turns out he had an undetected virus and was full of mucus. He’s doing great right now.”

Fall At Last drew post 3, with Quincy Welch retaining the mount.

The new kid in town is A. P. Zona, who should appreciate being back on dirt after finishing fourth in his first try on turf going a mile in a $40,000 optional claimer for trainer Blaine Wright at Golden Gate Fields on April 23. Wright had claimed him on behalf of Peter Redekop out of his previous race, a $40,000 claimer at Santa Anita on March 9.

The Kentucky-bred son of Creative Cause also won’t mind the move back to a sprint. He won the six-furlong race on the main track when he was claimed, and he used his good speed to win his previous start going 5 1/2 furlongs in a $50,000 maiden claimer Feb. 2.

A. P. Zona drew post 2 and likely will be put into the race early by Enrique Gonzalez. Phil Hall, Redekop’s trainer at Hastings, will saddle A. P. Zona.