Destiny's Home looks set to contend in '08 debut

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Destiny's Home could be a live horse at a decent price in the feature race at Hastings on Sunday. The second-level allowance over six furlongs for fillies and mares has a $50,000 claiming option. It drew nine horses, and appears to be wide open.

Destiny's Home, making her first start of the year on Sunday, ran her eyeballs out to finish a close second in a $50,000 optional race behind Holy Nova in her final start last year. Holy Nova went on to win two straight $50,000 optional races at Golden Gate. With Monashee retired and out of the picture, Holy Nova figures to be one of the top stakes horses in the filly and mare division at Hastings this year.

Trained by Quint McCabe, Destiny's Home won a single race in 2007, but she finished second four times and she hit the board in 6 of her 9 starts. She's been training exceptionally well this spring and she figures to get a stalking trip behind what could be a lively battle up front.

Richard Hamel rides.

Tamarinda and Lasting Lake both have good speed, and if either is able to shake loose early, she could go a long way.

Tamarinda, who is trained by Jim Brown, won her final two starts in 2007 but is taking a substantial step up in class.

Lasting Lake closed out her 2007 campaign with a fifth-place finish in a $40,000 optional race at Northlands Park on Sept. 23.

Opal Haze is a bit of a mystery. She ran five times in Great Britain last year, winning two 12-furlong races that were run over synthetic surfaces. She finished strongly in both of her five-furlong works here, and it certainly appears as if she wants more distance.