Erlich brings big-time talent to River Rock Casino

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Erlich should appreciate being back on dirt and with easier company when he runs in the $50,000 River Rock Casino at Hastings Sunday. The 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds drew seven horses, but if Erlich comes close to running anywhere near as well as he did in a couple of races at Aqueduct, he’s the winner.

In his latest start, and first for trainer Blaine Wright, the Kentucky-bred colt ran off and set a wicked pace before fading in his first try on Tapeta in the $100,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields on April 27. Prior to that, when trained by Kelly Breen, he showed a lot of promise, including a neck loss to Belmont Stakes contender Tacitus in a maiden special weight at Aqueduct in just his third start. Tacitus came back to win the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and Grade 2 Wood Memorial before finishing just 3 1/2 lengths behind Maximum Security in the Kentucky Derby.

Erlich went into the California Derby off a romp in the slop in a maiden special weight race at Aqueduct where he received a 95 Beyer Speed Figure. Following his blowout win he was purchased privately by Lance Giesbrecht and Gordon Christoff and shipped to Wright.

John Snow is his trainer at Hastings, and Snow is cautiously optimistic about how Erlich will run in the River Rock.

“He’s training great and he worked super,” said Snow referring to Erlich’s bullet five-furlong move with Richard Hamel aboard on May 26. “He’s just a bit out of control. We made a couple of minor equipment changes and he settled nicely for Richard in his work.”

Erlich will break from the outside post on Sunday with Hamel riding.

“It’s a good post for him” said Snow. “Richard can play the break and go from there.

KEY CONTENDERS

Erlich, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 46-95-69

◗ His best races have been going longer, but he was the runner-up when he debuted going six furlongs at Monmouth Park so he should be fine with the cutback in distance.

Explode, by Trappe Shot

Last 3 Beyers: 64-60-69

◗ Trained by Mark Cloutier, he was the runner-up to Dr John H in the Jim Coleman Province, but was the best horse in the race. After getting squeezed back early, he ended up going very wide around the stretch turn and understandably hung late in his first start since he romped in the $75,000 Ascot Graduation last Sept. 30.

Dr John H, by Harbor the Gold

Last 3 Beyers: 67-59-54

◗ He has not lost sprinting on dirt.

◗ He was a game winner of the Jim Coleman Province in his first start here, but other speed could make his task difficult on Sunday.