Dyna Stroll should be set for his best in Stellar's Jay

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – If trainer Troy Taylor is correct, Dyna Stroll is going to be one tough horse in the $50,000 Stellar’s Jay for 3-year-olds at Hastings on Monday. The Stellar’s Jay is one of the seven stakes races for B.C.-breds that make up the bulk of the 10-race B.C. Cup Day card. All seven stakes are worth $50,000, topped by the B.C. Cup Classic, which Spaghetti Mouse will attempt to win for the third time.

Dyna Stroll will be favored in the 1 1/16-mile Stellar’s Jay that drew 11 horses and goes as the eighth race. It looked like he was going to blow by the field at the quarter pole in the Chris Loseth July 11, and although Dyna Stroll did win, it wasn’t a visually impressive performance.

“He needed the race,” said Taylor. “He had missed a little training and he came up a bit short. He’ll be a little tighter on Monday.”

Dyna Stroll has won both of his starts at the distance, including the $107,000 Ascot Graduation in his final start last year.

Dogwood: Dearest Princess favored

Dearest Princes, trained by Mel Snow, will take most of the money in the 1 1/16-mile Dogwood for 3-year-old fillies that drew five horses. Dearest Princess has won four of her last five starts and was successful when she stretched out to 1 1/16 miles for the first time in the Supernaturel on July 1. The second-place finisher, Otero, came back to finish a good third behind Summer Song in the Strawberry Morn for older fillies and mares. Dearest Princess is also the only horse in the field with a win at the distance.

Sprint: Almost Time not at his best

Almost Time was installed as the 8-5 favorite for the Sprint and should have an honest pace to assist him. He will also appreciate the move back to a sprint after a dull effort in the 1 1/8-mile Lieutenant Governors. His trainer, Dino Condilenios, wasn’t exactly brimming with confidence, however.

“He’s sound and training okay,” said Condilenios. “But, he isn’t jumping out of his skin like he was this spring.”

Almost Time ran the best race of his career when he upset Teide in the John Longden on June 6, and the big effort may have taken something out of him.

The lively pace should be provided by Woombroom Express and Sense of Humor. Woombroom Express won the Sprint last year.

◗ Condilenios has entered three horses in the 6 1/2 furlong Debutante for 2-year-old fillies and he thinks Embankment and Aquatic have the best chances in the 11-horse field. Embankment is coming off of a second-place finish in a six-furlong maiden special weight race July 9. Aquatic had a rough trip in her debut but still finished third in a $20,000 maiden claiming race July 25.

◗ The 6 1/2-furlong Nursery drew nine 2-year-old colts and geldings, and similar to the Debutante, it appears to be a wide-open race.

Jump Up and Kissme was a game winner when he debuted in a maiden special weight race July 9, and should be prominent from the start. Cash Land displayed a lot of maturity when he came from last to win a $20,000 maiden claiming race July 25.

◗ Against the Sky figures to be a short price to defend her title in the 1 1/8-mile Distaff for older fillies and mares. The Distaff drew eight horses and will go as the ninth race.

Wind Storm looks like the main threat, but she has spent most of her career sprinting for trainer Dave Forster. Last year she finished third in the Sprint.