Hastings: Caged Mistress looks strong for Vancouver Sun

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Caged Mistress will try and keep her unblemished record at Hastings intact when she tackles a solid field of fillies and mares in the $50,000 Vancouver Sun Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile feature attracted eight horses and goes as race 7 on the eight-race card, which starts at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Caged Mistress has made a remarkable comeback after fracturing her left front leg in the 2010 Oregon Derby. According to her trainer, Troy Taylor, she was operated on and convalesced at the Pegasus Training Center in Redmond, Wash., where she was off for nine months. Since returning she has won 3 of 4 races. In her first start back she finished second in a $40,000 claiming race coming down the hill at Santa Anita but was later awarded the purse when the winner tested positive for a banned substance. After running eighth and last in a one-mile race on the turf at Santa Anita she shipped to Hastings, where she has been perfect in two starts. In her last start she stalked a very slow pace before finishing full of run to beat her stablemates Summer Song and Finality Philly in a $50,000 optional claiming race going 1 1/16 miles June 5.

Tierra Del Feugo has also made a strong comeback after missing all of 2010 due to quarter cracks. She lost by a nose to Caged Mistress going 6 1/2 in her first start back and she is coming off of a second-place finish behind Classic Alley Kat in the $50,000 Senate Appointee, also at 6 1/2 furlongs, May 21. She carried her good speed to three straight stakes wins going 1 1/16 miles in 2009 and she figures to be on the lead in the Sun.

“I would have liked to have one more race under her,” said her trainer, Barbara Heads. “But she is doing really well and if she can settle early she should be okay.”

Kimmyv could get first crack at Tierra Del Feugo. Trained by Dino Condilenios, Kimmyv used her tactical speed to win the 1 1/8-mile mile $75,000 Emerald Distaff Handicap last year and she is coming off of a sharp third going six furlongs in the Hastings Handicap at Emerald May 15. She will be running without blinkers for the first time in her career.

Wando Woman could be a late threat if an honest pace develops.

Wind Storm has won half of her last 18 starts since Aug. 9, 2008, and her worst finish during that period was a fourth in the Grade 3 Ballerina last year.