Don’t Hold Me Back could surprise in BC Premier’s

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Square Dancer is the clear favorite to win the Grade 3, $100,000 BC Premier’s Handicap at Hastings on Monday. Trained by Steve Henson, Square Dancer hasn’t lost in three starts at Hastings, and he overcame adversity to win the $100,000 Redekop Classic in his last start. However, another horse in Henson’s barn could be the sleeper in the 1 3/8-mile feature.

After finishing second to Bluegrass Angus going 1 1/16 miles in the $50,000 Richmond Derby Trial on Aug. 21, Don’t Hold Me Back won a $25,000 optional-claiming race for 3-year-olds going 6 1/2 furlongs Sept. 20.

Following his sharp win, he was impressive while working five furlongs in 59.40 seconds with David Lopez aboard last Sunday. He didn’t appear to be all out when he came home the final quarter-mile in 23.80.

Henson likes the way Don’t Hold Me Back is coming into the Premier’s but isn’t sure he is good enough to beat Square Dancer.

“He’s a real nice colt,” said Henson. “Can he win it? I don’t know. I don’t think he can outrun Square Dancer right now. You never know, though. He couldn’t be doing any better, and I am expecting a big effort from him.”

There is rain in the forecast, and both horses should be okay with sloppy conditions. Don’t Hold Me Back skipped over a wet track in his latest win, while Square Dancer finished second in an $80,000 optional-claiming race washed off the turf in 2013 at Santa Anita the only time he got his feet wet.

Henson also is excited about running Groot in the $75,000 Ascot Graduation for 2-year-olds. Groot is coming off a fast-closing third in the $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity. He certainly acts like a horse who will thrive at the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Ascot.

“It’s been a lot of fun the last few weeks getting these horses ready to run on one day,” said Henson. “Groot has been looking for more distance, and he gets it in the Ascot.”

Lady Rosberg makes local debut

Owner Karl Krieg is looking forward to celebrating his 61st wedding anniversary with wife Darlyne at Hastings on Monday.

A win by Lady Rosberg in the Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina would make the day even more special. Karl Krieg bred and owns Lady Rosberg, who was the top older female at the recently concluded Emerald Downs meet. A winner of 8 of 16 starts with earnings of $176,272, Lady Rosberg easily won the $65,000 Emerald Distaff Handicap the only time she went the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Ballerina.

“We are really looking forward to Monday,” said Krieg. “I have been fortunate to have had Darlyne stand by me for all these years in this crazy business. Years ago, an accountant went over our books, and seeing all the red ink, he told her we should do something else. She just looked at him and said, ‘But what would I do with Karl?’ It should be a fun day.”

Lady Rosberg was trained by Tom Wenzel at Emerald and will be making her first start at Hastings for trainer Frank Barroby. The veteran horseman is happy with how the 5-year-old mare has adjusted to her new surroundings.

“She carries herself like a classy horse,” said Barroby. “She’s never run on a sloppy track, but she’s by Rosberg, and they seem to handle wet tracks well. She ran well on turf, so it looks like she can run over anything.”

** Sunday’s card came up pretty weak, but there is a $93,065 carryover in the Sea-to-Sky Pick 6. A unique ticket is required to win the jackpot, and if it isn’t hit Sunday, there will be a mandatory payout Monday.