Goliath can live up to name in allowance feature

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The aptly named Goliath looks like the one to beat in a first-level allowance race that will serve as the featured race Saturday at Hastings. The 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds drew six horses and goes as race 4 on a seven-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

According to his trainer, Dino Condilenios, Goliath is more than 17 hands tall and weighs in at roughly 1,200 pounds.

“We gave him his name because he was a pretty big horse as a baby,” said Condilenios.

Goliath lost a thriller in his last start in the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes on Sept. 1. With Richard Hamel aboard, he came from well back to lose by a nose to Wonder World in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds. It looked like he was just getting warmed up when he finished full of run in the stretch, and he should appreciate having another sixteenth of a mile to work with Saturday.

There should be an honest pace supplied by Its Finally Friday, who figures to be hard-pressed to take them all the way.

“You never know how it is going to go until they spring the latch, but it looks like it should set up for him,” said Condilenios. “He’s also doing well right now, so I expect him to run a good race.”

Hamel retains the mount.

KEY CONTENDERS

Goliath (Last 3 Beyers: 72-47-59)

◗ He seems to be peaking right now, and the potential shape of the race should work in his favor.

Mr. Candy (53-66-72)

◗ He flopped as the chalk in his first start at Hastings for trainer Anita Bolton, but it was the first time he tried sprinting. He’ll appreciate the move back to a route and should get a nice trip sitting just off suspect speed.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past two years, Bolton has a 29 percent strike rate with horses going from a sprint to a route.

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Richter Red (Last 3 Beyers: 54-70-65)

◗ Trained by Bruce Unwin, he has the right running style for the race and won’t mind the move back to a route after finishing third behind Its Finally Friday going 6 1/2 furlongs at this level Aug. 15.

◗ He’s also had a couple of sharp works leading up to this and should get a cozy trip after breaking from the inside post.

Laguna Blaze (Last 3 Beyers: 66-53-64)

◗ The Carl Lausten trainee ran evenly in the CTHS Sales Stakes and could move forward in his second straight route attempt.