With decent trip, Remembertobreathe can air

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Remembertobreathe could be tough to handle if he gets a clean trip in the optional $35,000 claiming race that headlines the eight-race card at Hastings on Sunday. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses, and there should be enough speed to set up the late-running Remembertobreathe.

Remembertobreathe probably should have won his last race. His connections may have quit breathing when he was forced to steady sharply while making a strong move along the rail approaching the final turn in a $25,000 optional-claiming race here July 9. Despite getting stopped cold with Jeff Burningham aboard, Remembertobreathe rerallied and missed by a nose to Calgary Caper, who came back to win the $75,000 Pacific Customs Brokers Classic last Monday.

Trained by Sylvea Gregory, Remembertobreathe is the richest horse in the field, and a large chunk of his $108,118 in earnings was banked when he finished second in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park in 2014.

Remembertobreathe drew the rail and should get a ground-saving trip with Burningham retaining the mount.

Slice of Red has been installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite, but he likes to be involved early and will have to deal with other speed. Trained by Robbie Anderson, Slice of Red forced the pace before settling for second in a $50,000 optional-claiming race in his last start July 10.

KEY CONTENDERS

Remembertobreathe, by D’wildcat

Last 3 Beyers: 79-77-51

◗ The 5-year-old has just three wins but has been ambitiously placed in a lot of his races and fits nicely with this group.

Slice of Red, by Rosberg

Last 3 Beyers: 73-79-68

◗ The horse who beat him in his last race, Shooting Jacket, came back to finish fourth in the Pacific Customs Brokers Classic.

◗ He has won from a stalking position and could get a nice trip sitting just off suspect speed.

Mysterious Soul, by Perfect Soul

Last 3 Beyers: 58-78-79

◗ He was making just his second start of the year when he finished a distant fourth in the same race that Slice of Red exits and could be ready for a big effort with that three-turn race behind him.

◗ Trained by Barbara Heads, he just missed to $1.1 million earner and multiple graded stakes winner Alert Bay in the Grade 3 Premier’s in 2014.

◗ He could be dangerous with the blinkers coming off.