Hastings: Glenco Kid impressive in Ascot Graduation score

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Mario Gutierrez guided Glenco Kid to an easy 4 1/2-length win over Step Up in the $75,000 Ascot Graduation at Hastings Sunday. He paid $5.60 as a slight favorite over Proud Victor, who was on the lead when he bolted at the half-mile pole of the 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds. Tracker finished third in the Ascot Graduation, the final stakes of the meet, which ended Sunday.

Earlier on the card Richard Hamel brought I Want to Dust Her from last to win the $75,000 Fantasy Stakes.

Gutierrez had Glenco Kid mid-pack during the early stages of the race, which was run over a sloppy track. They moved into contention at the quarter pole and took command of the race at the top of the stretch.

It was Glenco Kid's first race on dirt. He was coming off a sixth-place finish in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity at Arlington Park.

“He acts like he could be a pretty nice horse,” said Gutierrez.

The final time was 1:45.86.

Glenco Kid is trained by Troy Taylor.

I Want to Dust Her paid $9.30 for her 4 1/4-length win over Innocent Love in the 1 1/16-mile Fantasy for 2-year-old fillies. Ten Thirty, who was favored in the nine-horse field, finished third.

The quick early fractions of 23.23 and 46.67 played into the hands of I Want to Dust Her, who also trailed the field early when she won the $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity in her previous start. She was fourth heading into the stretch but she was under a full head of steam and the only question was the margin of victory.

“I was happy where we were early because I knew they were going pretty fast up front,” said Hamel.

The final time was 1:47.05.

I Want to Dust Her is trained by Lenore Dubois.

Jockey Pedro Alvarado wrapped up his 31-year career with three wins Sunday, including his last mount, which came aboard Mr Exspeedient in the last race. The 47-year-old jockey has won over 3,000 races in his career, with 1,008 of them coming at Hastings.