Dear Lilly could benefit from speed-favoring track in sprint feature

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – It is hard to take a firm stand on any of the 10 fillies and mares running in a $35,000 optional-claiming race that will serve as the feature Saturday at Hastings. The six-furlong dash is a mix of stakes winners making comebacks and horses seeing if they are ready to move to the next level.

The one thing we can point to is that speed ruled on the first two days of the meet.

With that in mind, Dear Lilly could be the one in a race that is hard to get a handle on.

Trained by Troy Taylor, Dear Lilly hasn’t raced since she finished fifth here as the 4-5 favorite at this level July 19. She won her debut in a $20,000 maiden-claiming race at Golden Gate, so she can fire fresh. Prior to her last start, she won a $35,000 optional-claiming race at Hastings going 6 1/2 furlongs, forcing a moderate pace before pulling away in the stretch.

She won’t necessarily be the one they have to catch, but she is quick enough to stay in touch with Sabrina, who will have her work cut out for her after breaking from the No. 10 hole.

David Lopez rides Dear Lilly, who will break from post 3.

Dance the Wind won the $50,000 Vancouver Sun and was a major force in the older fillies and mares division at Hastings in 2013 but started only once last year, finishing fourth in the Brighouse Belles. The Carl Lausten trainee won coming off winter layoffs in 2012 and 2013, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see her fire a big shot while coming off the bench.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Dear Lilly (Last 3 Beyers: 67-76-74)

◗ She has a win and a second in two starts at the distance and has been training forwardly.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Taylor has a 19 percent strike rate with horses coming off a layoff of more than 180 days.

Dance the Wind (Last 3 Beyers: 71-68-66)

◗ We know she can fire fresh, and with three wins and a second-place finish, she thrives at the distance.

Sabrina (Last 3 Beyers: 72-45-67)

◗ Trained by Dino Condilenios, she is the only horse in the field with a race this year, and it was a good one, as she used her speed to win a $25,000 conditional claimer April 18 at Emerald Downs. She drew a tough post for this distance, but if she breaks on top, she could be gone.