Distance should suit Lord Vancouver

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – In a race lacking a clear favorite, it might be worth taking a stab at Lord Vancouver in a $35,000 optional-claiming race that headlines Sunday’s eight-race card at Hastings.

If you toss out Lord Vancouver’s dull effort last out in a sprint, he looks as good as any of the seven horses entered in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. He is an attractive possibility at anywhere near his 12-1 morning-line odds.

Trained by Phil Hall, Lord Vancouver is a stakes winner at the distance in the British Columbia Cup Stellar’s Jay and was the runner-up to Emerald Downs Derby winner Opportunistic in the $50,000 Chris Loseth. Following his win in the Stellar’s Jay, Lord Vancouver found 1 3/8 miles beyond his reach in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby. However, he rebounded with a solid effort to miss by a nose in the CTHS Sales Stakes in his final start as a 3-year-old.

In his 4-year-old debut, he ran evenly to finish fourth in the $50,000 George Royal, but he likes to be involved early, and he was taken out of his game when he hopped at the start in a $35,000 optional-claiming sprint in his last start.

Lord Vancouver will appreciate the added yardage and, if he breaks well from post position 3, should get a nice trip sitting just off what looks to be a moderate pace.

Sabado Alegre is the one they will have to catch. Trained by Craig MacPherson, the 5-2 morning-line favorite is coming off a nose loss at this level going 6 1/2 furlongs on June 18. He’s never won going a middle distance, but two of his races going a mile or longer came on turf, and he was facing the best horses at Hastings and Emerald in his three route attempts on dirt.

This race should tell his connections if he is capable of going this far or not.

KEY CONTENDERS

Lord Vancouver, by Teide
Last 3 Beyers: 57-75-75

◗ He has an excellent record at the distance, and over the last couple of years at Hastings, leading trainer Hall has a 22 percent strike rate with horses going from a sprint to a route.

Sabado Alegre, by Any Given Saturday
Last 3 Beyers: 77-73-88

◗ Not surprisingly, he couldn’t keep up in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile in his last route attempt. However, he fits nicely with this group and could be dangerous if he gets away on his own with leading rider Richard Hamel aboard.

Dashing Don, by Popular
Last 3 Beyers: 77-73-71

◗ He has won half of his six starts at the distance and goes from one good trainer to another, with Glen Todd claiming him for $25,000 out of a winning race going 1 1/16 miles for Nancy Betts.