Distance the only question for Here's Hannah in Fantasy

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer John Morrison is expecting another strong performance from Here’s Hannah in the $100,000 Fantasy on Saturday at Hastings. Undefeated and untested in two starts, both sprinting, Here’s Hannah will be a short price to win the 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies, which drew six horses.

In both of her wins, including the $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity on Sept. 9, Here’s Hannah broke on top and led all the way with leading rider Richard Hamel aboard. She was particularly impressive winning the Sadie Diamond by three lengths. After looking around for challengers, Hamel wrapped up on her in midstretch in the 6 1/2-furlong dash.

Morrison is confident she will be able to carry her speed around three turns Saturday.

“She’s doing great right now and she’s bred top and bottom to run long,” he said.

Here’s Hannah drew the outside post with Hamel riding. Morrison wasn’t concerned about the speed drawn inside of her.

“She comes out of there pretty quickly and hopefully that will continue,” he said. “Barring misadventure, it will take a good horse to outrun her.

Shipping in from Northern California is Assemble, who ran well in her three starts on dirt, but wasn’t much of a threat when she ran on Tapeta in a $40,000 optional-claiming race at Golden Gate Fields on Sept. 9. She went into the race off a third-place finish in the $65,000 Wine Country Debutante on Aug. 13 at Santa Rosa.

Trained by Blaine Wright in her first four starts, Assemble runs for trainer Phil Hall on Saturday. Hall said he didn’t know what to expect from her.

“Blaine worked her at Emerald Sunday and she arrived here Monday,” he said. “She seems to like the track, so hopefully she’ll run a good race. They are all going long for the first time, so anything can happen.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Here’s Hannah, by Numaany

Beyers: 64-61

◗ She should get plenty of stamina from her sire, who won nine routes, including two going 1 1/2 miles.

◗ She will be a single on a lot of tickets in the Sea to Sky Pick 6, which begins on race 2 with a $36,078 carryover.

Assemble, by Bodemeister

Last 3 Beyers: 40-43-59

◗ She got off to poor starts in her last two races and could be dangerous if she breaks alertly from post 3 with Antonio Reyes riding. She tuned up for this with a sharp five-furlong move out of the gate Sunday at Emerald Downs.

Raider, by Stephanotis

Last 3 Beyers: 57-49-30

◗ She was no match for Here’s Hannah in the Sadie Diamond and will need to improve to win this. However, she did come back with a sharp work for trainer Greg Tracy and could round out the exacta if Assemble doesn’t fire.