Dyna Stroll's turn to shine
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Dyna Stroll should appreciate getting away from the sensational Huitzilopochtli when he runs in the $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity at Hastings Sunday. Nonetheless, he is still going to have to deal with a razor-sharp Clear to Canada in the 6 1/2-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds foaled in Canada. The Futurity drew 10 horses and goes as the seventh of 11 races.
Dyna Stroll has had the unenviable task of chasing Huitzilopochtli in three straight stakes races. In all three races Dyna Stroll made a strong move at the quarter pole only to see Huitzilopochtli run away from him. Dyna Stroll, trained by Troy Taylor, could be the one they're chasing on Sunday. If he doesn't break on top he should get first crack at speed that doesn't figure to last.
In his last start, Dyna Stroll finished third after making a threatening move going into the stretch turn of the CTHS Sales Stakes on Sept. 13. Taylor sent Dyna Stroll out for a solid five-furlong move in 1:00.80 on Sept. 27, and as usual downplayed his chances on Sunday.
"We certainly won't miss running against Huitzilopochtli, but it's not exactly an easy spot," said Taylor. "He had a good work the other day, but he might not be doing as well as he was earlier in the year."
Mario Gutierrez retains the mount.
Clear to Canada could be favored off of his second-place finish in the CTHS Sales Stakes, which came in just his second start. Trained by Terry Clyde, Clear to Canada scored a front-running win with Keveh Nicholls in the irons when he debuted in a six-furlong maiden special weight race on Aug. 28. Nicholls retains the mount.
Trainer Juan Olmos would love to run Huitzilopochtli on Sunday but can't because Huitzilopochtli's mare wasn't nominated to the Futurity when she was in foal, and there are no supplementary payments allowed. He will be taking a crack at it with Mucho Verde, who finished second, just in front of Dyna Stroll, in the B.C. Cup Nursery. Mucho Verde faded badly when he came back to finish last in the CTHS Sales Stakes.
Locksmith, trained by Dino Condilenios, looked good leading from start to finish when he won a maiden special weight race in his second start on Sept. 20.