Hastings: Dr Sport could help MacPherson close in on title

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Going into the final two weeks of the 2013 Hastings meet, trainer Craig MacPherson is on the verge of winning his first training title. MacPherson has won 33 races, which is four more than Troy Taylor, who has been the leading trainer here the past six years.

“Troy looks like he has quite a few live horses in his barn still, so I am going to have to win some races,” MacPherson said.

MacPherson has a good shot to win a first-level allowance race for 2-year-olds with Dr Sport on Sunday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew eight horses and Dr Sport figures to be favored over Burnaby Baron, who is coming off a sharp front-running win in a $30,000 optional maiden-claiming race on Sept. 22.

Dr Sport showed he could rate when he finished second in a first-level allowance race at Northlands Park on Sept. 7, and that could give him a decisive advantage in the speed-laden field. He broke in the air with Rico Walcott aboard, and after going extremely wide around the first turn he made a strong move before hanging late. The race impressed MacPherson.

“He’s always been quick leaving the starting gate, so I thought he was in trouble when he broke so poorly,” MacPherson said. “He surprised me a bit. It looks like he’ll sit behind horses, which is a big asset. I think he’s a little better horse than I originally thought.”

Prior to his race at Northlands, Dr Sport won a $30,000 optional maiden-claiming race going 3 1/2 furlongs here with Richard Hamel aboard. Hamel is reunited with Dr Sport on Sunday.

Trainer Phil Hall took the blinkers off Burnaby Baron for his third start, and he was rewarded with the result he was looking for when Burnaby Baron broke on top and never looked back while winning a $30,000 optional maiden-claiming race going 6 1/2 furlongs on Sept. 22.

On Sunday, Burnaby Baron is going to have to deal with plenty of other speed drawn inside of him, particularly Cowie Creek, who took a big step forward in his third start, which came going 3 1/2 furlongs on Sept. 7. Trained by Randy Hudson, Cowie Creek led every step of the way and posted a quick final time of 39.30 seconds. In his previous start, he finished third behind Dr Sport.

The filly Shes All Stormy also flashed decent speed in her win going 3 1/2 furlongs in her second start.