Golden Pursuit risks streak

Golden Pursuit, who has won his last three races by a combined total of one length, again looks like the horse to beat on Saturday when he faces six rivals in the $25,000 claiming feature at Hastings in Vancouver, British Columbia.

All of Golden Pursuit's recent victories have come over the 1 1/16-mile distance of Saturday's headliner, and he is returning to the $25,000 range following a $32,000 optional claiming/first-level allowance victory on Sept. 9.

Golden Pursuit began his streak when he scored by a half-length for $20,000 for owner K.K. Sangara and trainer Allan Jack on July 29. Claimed by trainer Toni Jacobson that day, Golden Pursuit was wheeled back two weeks later and was a neck winner for $25,000.

Jack was waiting with the halter, however, and Golden Pursuit returned to his former barn and recorded another neck victory for Sangara in his latest.

Mario Guiterrez, aboard for Golden Pursuit's July 29 score, regains the mount.

Louder also is back in one of his former barns for Saturday's race, having been claimed from a fourth-place finish as the odds-on favorite at the $20,000 level in his latest. Lowered sharply to face $8,000 conditioned claiming rivals on July 28, Louder romped by 6 1/2 lengths and was claimed from owner Swift Thoroughbreds and trainer Dino Condilenios. After watching Louder register another lengthy victory four weeks later over $18,000 nonwinners of three, Condilenios put in the claim slip for the 4-year-old gelding Sept. 10.