Del Rio Harbor gets class break in Harbour View
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Del Rio Harbor returns to Hastings, where he looks like the one to beat in the $35,000 Harbour View on Sunday’s closing day of the meet. The 1 1/16-mile race is for 3-year-olds and up and drew six horses.
Del Rio Harbor, 4, was coming off a runner-up finish in the Emerald Downs Derby when he made his first start for trainer Marshall Allen in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby here last year. He ran a big race, finishing third to Alert Bay. Alert Bay went on to win six stakes, including the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita in his last start Sept. 27.
That was Del Rio Harbor’s only start at Hastings. Del Rio Harbor returned to Emerald Downs, where he had a productive 2015 meet for Marshall, winning once and earning $37,620.
“He was pretty competitive in most of his races,” Allen said. “It’s always tough making the transition from 3 to 4 when you’re running against older horses, especially with Stryker Phd there.”
Stryker Phd dominated the older handicap division at Emerald, and he won the Grade 3 Longacres Mile for the second straight year.
Del Rio Harbor will appreciate the easier company he’s facing in the Harbour View, and he seems to thrive at Hastings. Marshall was pleased with his bullet five-furlong work in 1:00.00 with Pedro Alvarado aboard Oct. 16.
“For a big horse, he doesn’t seem to mind the tight turns here, and he seems to love the surface,” Allen said. “He’s really doing well right now, and Pedro was very happy with how he worked.”
Del Rio Harbor drew the outside post, and it is likely Alvarado will put him into the race right from the start.
KEY CONTENDERS
Del Rio Harbor (Last 3 Beyers: 83-77-84)
◗ He’s versatile and can take them all the way if he breaks on top, or he can stalk if Dontmesswithkitten gets the jump on him early.
Dontmesswithkitten (Last 3 Beyers: 64-87-51)
◗ Trained by Cindy Krasner, he almost pulled off a huge upset in the S.W. Randall Plate two back, and you can toss his eighth-place finish last out in the Premiers, when he hopped at the start.
Locket (Last 3 Beyers: 76-79-86)
◗ The Frank Barroby-trained 5-year-old mare will be rolling late and deserves a win after being the runner-up in five straight stakes.
Wilo Kat (Last 3 Beyers: 80-80-75)
◗ The 2014 B.C. Cup Classic winner may have tipped his hand when he worked an extremely fast five furlongs in 58.60 seconds Oct. 15.