Hastings: Dancing Daisy formidable in sprint feature

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Dancing Daisy figures to be tough to handle when she runs in a $25,000 claiming race for fillies and mares at Hastings on Friday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew seven horses but it is hard to go past Dashing Daisy, who will be a short price to win her fourth race at the meet. Due to a B.C. Lions football game, the first race is scheduled for 3:20 p.m. Pacific.

Trained by Troy Taylor, Dashing Daisy has been perfect the three times she ran in claiming sprints at the meet and is coming off a strong second behind Cry Cry Cry in a quickly run optional $35,000 claiming race June 25. Taylor took advantage of the fact that four of Dashing Daisy’s five wins came in the bushes when he started her in a $12,500 claiming race for nonwinners-of-two in her first start of the meet and she toyed with her overmatched rivals. She came right back to easily handle open $12,500 claimers in her next start and then held off Daymaker when she doubled her price to $25,000 May 27.

In all of her races, Dashing Daisy used her tactical speed to secure a good spot early and once again jockey Mario Gutierrez figures to have her sitting just off what should be an honest enough pace.

Daymaker tries just about every time but her running style makes it hard for her to win races for trainer Dino Condilenios. A deep closer, Daymaker came from well back to finish second by a nose behind Motel Stroll in a $25,000 claiming race July 3 and in her previous start she made her usual strong late move to just miss to Dashing Daisy.

Terlani, trained by Tracy McCarthy, didn’t have the best trip when she finished fourth in the same race Daymaker exits and could be dangerous from a stalking position. She won back-to-back $17,500 claiming sprints to start the year and then finished second to Motel Stroll for the same price June 3.

Indy Beauty won’t mind the move back to a sprint after tiring in a 1 1/16-mile first-level allowance race July 2. She was an easy winner for trainer Rob Gilker when she made her seasonal debut in a $12,500 nonwinners-of-two going 6 1/2 furlongs June 18.

The one they will likely have to catch is Sweet N Sour, who forced the issue early before tiring in Cry Cry Cry’s win over Dashing Daisy.