Dear Lilly still advancing toward peak form

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Dear Lilly, trained by Troy Taylor, looks like the one to beat in a $35,000 optional-claiming race that will serve as Saturday’s feature at Hastings. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares drew six horses and goes as the sixth race on the seven-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

KEY CONTENDERS

DEAR LILLY (Last 3 Beyers: 76-74-59)

◗ She showed more speed in her win over Super Divine and Terlani in a similar race June 21, and with her Beyer Speed Figures heading in the right direction, she probably hasn’t reached her peak.

◗ According to DRF’s Formulator, over the past five years, Taylor has won with 32 percent of his starters at Hastings who were coming off a win.

◗ Dear Lilly drew the rail, and with no pure speed in the field, she should be in contention right from the start if she breaks alertly with Alex Bisono aboard.

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SUPER DIVINE (Last 3 Beyers: 73-68-69)

◗ Trainer Dave Forster would have liked to have brought her back at a middle distance following a big effort in her first route attempt. Nonetheless, her only win came sprinting, and she seems to be heading in a positive direction.

◗ Her lack of speed probably isn’t going to help her here, and according to Formulator, over the past five years, Forster has a 9 percent strike rate with horses moving from a route to a sprint.

FAR NIENTE (Last 3 Beyers: 60-58-60)

◗ The lone 3-year-old filly in the field was nominated to the $50,000 Northlands Oaks at Northlands Park on Friday, but citing transportation problems, trainer Craig MacPherson decided to keep her at Hastings.

◗ She will need to improve her Beyers to contend for the top spot, but she is lightly raced, has won her last two, and shouldn’t mind the move from a route to a sprint.

◗ She’s been freshened following her win in a first-level allowance race, and MacPherson has solid recent numbers, 28 percent with his last 18 starters, with horses coming off a layoff of 31 to 60 days – and 19 percent in the category over the past five years.

HAVASU FALLS (Last 3 Beyers: 76-53-58)

◗ Trained by John Snow, she came back with a sharp half-mile work here after just missing going six furlongs in a $50,000 claiming race at Emerald Downs on June 22.

◗ She showed more speed in her last start, earned a career-best Beyer, and could be the one they have to catch if she breaks on top.