Go for Guinness should relish longer distance in allowance feature

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Go for Guinness figures to be a short price and tough to beat when he runs in a first-level allowance Sunday at Hastings. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew five horses and should set up Go for Guinness for the $75,000 British Columbia Cup Classic on B.C. Cup Day on Aug. 1.

Trained by Dave Forster, Go for Guinness ran the best race of his career on B.C. Cup Day last year, romping by 6 1/2 lengths over Mark in the $50,000 Stellar’s Jay for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles. That was his last win, though, and after finishing fourth as the heavy favorite in the Richmond Derby Trial and then ninth in the Grade 3 B.C. Derby, Go for Guinness was turned out for the year.

He came back with a big effort in his first start as an older horse May 17, losing by a nose to Modern in a 6 1/2-furlong first-level allowance race and receiving an 80 Beyer Speed Figure. He might have bounced when he returned as the favorite in a similar race and finished third.

Go for Guinness should appreciate stretching out for the first time this year, and with his tactical speed, he will either be the one they have to catch or get a perfect trip sitting just off Payton’s Best, who figures to have a hard time taking them all the way.

Amadeo Perez rides Go for Guinness.

The main threat could come from Hopeseeker, who will be running without blinkers for the first time in his eight-race career. The 2013 B.C. Derby runner-up is looking for his first win since he impressively won a maiden special weight race in his debut last year. In his most recent race, he finished fourth in the same race that Go for Guinness exits.

“We want to try and settle him down,” said Hopeseeker’s trainer, Carl Lausten. “He gets pretty wound up, and by the time he gets to the gate, it seems like he’s already run three races. He’s been very relaxed in the mornings without blinkers, and we’re hoping he’ll be the same in the afternoon.”

Thanks a Million could be ready for a peak effort in his third start on the West Coast. Trained by Alex Murray, Thanks a Million came from out of the clouds to finish third in a maiden special weight race going 6 1/2 furlongs here May 31, then rallied to win a one-mile $30,000 optional maiden-claiming race at Emerald Downs on June 22.

Dee Jay Snow completes the field.