Finality's Charmer could be dangerous on the lead in Ross McLeod

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Finality’s Charmer is clearly the one to catch and beat in the $50,000 Ross McLeod on Sunday at Hastings. The quick daughter of Finality used her good speed to win three of her four starts as a 2-year-old and has been training forwardly for trainer Craig MacPherson this spring.

MacPherson is pleased with how Finality’s Charmer is coming up to her first start since she won the $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity on Sept. 21. He expects another strong performance from her in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies that drew six horses.

“Her works haven’t been that fast, but we have been trying to slow her down,” said MacPherson. “I like both of my horses in the race.”

The other horse he was referring to is Splendid Scat, who finished second to Finality’s Charmer in the Sadie Diamond and was making a big move as the favorite in the $75,000 Fantasy but lost her rider, Richard Hamel, when she hit a fallen horse on the stretch turn.

Hamel rides Finality’s Charmer from post 3.

Trainer Dave Forster wasn’t saying which one he liked better between Ambleside Park, who won the Fantasy by 7 1/4 lengths, or Susan’s Day, who will be making her first start at Hastings. Susan’s Day won her debut at Presque Isle Downs in August and is coming off a disappointing effort on turf Jan. 30 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Susan’s Day has been very impressive while training over the Hastings surface and was well in hand when she breezed four furlongs over a sloppy track with jockey Marklee Buchanan aboard Wednesday.

“Susan’s Day seems to like it here,” said Forster. “I’m looking for good races from them, and I think they are both going to improve when they stretch out.”

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KEY CONTENDERS

Finality’s Charmer (Last 3 Beyers: 51-68-60)

◗ A nose away from being undefeated, she is the speed of the speed and could be gone if she breaks on top.

Susan’s Day (Last 3 Beyers: 36-63-54)

◗ A first-time Lasix user, she has impressed the clockers at Hastings with a series of sharp works. She has shown decent speed going longer and could get a nice trip stalking Finality’s Charmer.

Quatre Cat (Last 3 Beyers: 33-32-56)

◗ Trained by Sylvia Gregory, she is the only horse to beat Finality’s Charmer, and she was certainly on her toes when she worked 6 1/2 furlongs out of the gate in 1:19 on April 16.