Hall has them coming and going in John Longden 6000

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Phil Hall holds a strong hand with a pair of aces in the $50,000 John Longden 6000 at Hastings Sunday. The Hall-trained Apalachee Bay will likely be the one they have to run down in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up, which drew six horses. If he falters, Calgary Caper will be rolling late and could pick up the pieces.

The Longden goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Apalachee Bay is coming off two solid efforts sprinting in the $50,000 Swift Inaugural on May 4 and $50,000 George Royal May 26. In the 6 1/2-furlong George Royal he chased an extremely fast pace. After dropping back on the stretch turn he rallied to finish a close third.

Apalachee Bay can be a tough horse to get past when he gets his head in front, and he appears to be the main speed in the Longden. The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred breaks from post 2 with Amadeo Perez riding.

Calgary Caper doesn’t really want to sprint, so he was probably telling us something when he rallied to finish second going 6 1/2 furlongs in a $50,000 claimer on June 2.

He came from well back in all three of his stakes wins last year, including a neck decision over Brave Nation in the Grade 3 Premier’s Handicap.

“They are both training well,” said Hall. “If they go slow early I like Apalachee Bay. If the pace is fast it helps Calgary Caper. I really liked Calgary Caper’s last race. They were walking up front and he almost got there. We almost lost him when he had colic surgery last winter, so it is nice to see him doing so well.”

Calgary Caper will break from post 5 with Enrique Gonzalez aboard.

KEY CONTENDERS

Apalachee Bay, by Malibu Moon

Last 3 Beyers: 66-79-80

◗ With no other real speed in the field, he should be able to set a moderate pace, which will make him double tough.

Calgary Caper, by El Corredor

Last 3 Beyers: 77-72-78

◗ His latest sprint tells us he could not be doing any better, and the multiple stakes winner is the class of the field. The shape of the race might not work for him, though.

Brave Nation, by Pioneerof the Nile

Last 3 Beyers: 82-72-78

◗ Trained by John Snow, the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt just missed to Calgary Caper in the Grade 3 Premier’s the last time he ran here, and he looked good winning a first-level allowance race with a $25,000 claiming option running over Tapeta for the first time at Golden Gate on May 24.

Pitch Count, by Eskendereya

Last 3 Beyers: 88-89-88

◗ The Glen Todd-trained 6-year-old shows up with lofty Beyers from Oaklawn Park and could make a big impact if he can earn the same kind of figures going around three turns for the first time.