Distance should suit 'Pursuit'

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Golden Pursuit could be tough to handle in the feature race at Hastings Saturday, a 1 1/16-mile, $20,000 claiming race which drew eight older horses.

Trained by Alan Jack, Golden Pursuit is coming off of a very good second-place finish sprinting July 16, and with four wins at the distance, he shouldn't have any trouble handling the added yardage. The last time Golden Pursuit won going this far he made a strong move into a hot pace in a $20,000 optional claiming race last November. With a very fast Alferrari in the field, the same scenario could unfold here.

Golden Pursuit will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez, who lost his apprentice status earlier this week.

Alferrari has won three of his five starts this year, but the 7-year-old gelding has never won going this far. He did win a two-turn mile at Emerald Downs in 2003, but since then all of his wins have been in sprints. He looked very sharp in his bullet four-furlong work in 46.60 seconds Monday and he could take them a long way. Alferrari is owned and trained by Alan May, who has won with four of his 10 starters at the meet.

Woody's Diamond has been going to the front in his recent races but he has won from a stalking position in the past. If his jockey, Robert Skelly, can get him to settle in behind Alferrari, he could be very dangerous.

Jule Bandit and He's Good to Go are both deep closers.