Fear of the Cat difficult to gauge in first start of season
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Sylvea Gregory isn’t sure what to expect from Fear of the Cat when he makes his 3-year-old debut at Hastings on Monday. Fear of the Cat certainly looks like a serious player in the optional $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds that drew nine horses going 6 1/2 furlongs.
Post time for the first of eight races is 1:50 p.m. Pacific.
Despite Fear of the Cat’s solid 1-2-1 record from four starts as a juvenile and the fact that he closed out his year with a win in the $60,000 CTHS Sales Stakes, Gregory isn’t expecting much from him Monday.
“He just hasn’t matured over the winter,” said Gregory. “He hasn’t been training particularly well, but you have to start somewhere.”
Gregory didn’t think much of Fear of the Cat when she was getting him ready for his debut last year. He ran a big race, however, rallying to finish second in a maiden special weight race July 1. In his second start, he was the runner-up in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Nursery, and after finishing third in the $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity, he won the CTHS Sales Stakes despite being hooked the whole way in the 6 1/2-furlong dash.
“It is funny,” said Gregory. “He just doesn’t show us much in the mornings, and he really surprised us when he ran such a strong race in his first start. Hopefully, he will fool us again.”
Fear of the Cat drew the rail, and it will be interesting to see how he runs while wearing blinkers for the first time.
“He just isn’t focused, so maybe the blinkers will help,” said Gregory.
Sahin Civaci rides.
Gregory also entered Capital Expense, who will guarantee a fast pace.
Good as They Get and Sunscape also can win what appears to be a wide-open race.
Race 5
KEY CONTENDERS
Fear of the Cat, by Abraaj
Last 3 Beyers: 54-52-59
◗ Nothing but solid efforts as a 2-year-old, and he didn’t have any trouble keeping up with the 2014 Canadian Derby runner-up, Remembertobreathe, when they worked in company May 14.
Lord Vancouver, by Teide
Last 3 Beyers: 66-66-52
◗ Trained by Phil Hall, he is coming off a sharp win on turf in a first-level allowance race at Turf Paradise on April 19.
“He just keeps improving every time I run him,” said Hall. “I think he’s a better horse going long, but he won a sprint here last year, and he’s doing very well right now.”
Silent Native, by Storm Victory
Last 3 Beyers: 46-45-22
◗ Hall also entered Silent Native, who dueled with Fear of the Cat before finishing fourth in the CTHS Sales Stakes in his last start.