Hastings: Golden Triumph should be tough with race under his belt

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Golden Triumph figures to be a handful when he runs in a first-level allowance race for 3-year-olds and up that will serve as Saturday’s feature at Hastings. There is also a clause in the conditions of the race that makes B.C.-bred nonwinners-of-three eligible to the race. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew eight horses and goes as race 7 on the eighth race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Trained by Dino Condilenios, Golden Triumph is coming off a nose loss to Stolenotis in a similar race Aug. 22 and considering it was his first start since he won a maiden special weight race at Delaware last Sept. 24 he is eligible to take a big step forward in his second start back.

Golden Triumph has had sufficient time to recover from his hard-fought loss and he appeared to be on his toes when he worked four furlongs in 49.40 seconds with exercise rider Christine Loseth aboard Sept. 7. Pedro Alvarado put Golden Triumph on the lead in his first start here and Frank Fuentes will likely put him into the race right from the start again. Alvarado is out of town to ride Tigger Town in the $50,000 Winnipeg Futurity at Assiniboia Downs.

Condilenios has also entered Double It, who should appreciate the move back to a sprint.

Ruffy Joe has improved substantially in his last three starts for trainer Carl Lausten. He showed signs of life when he rallied to finish third in a $40,000 optional claiming race July 7 and came right back with a front-running win for the same condition going 6 1/2 furlongs Aug. 4. He finished just over a length behind Golden Triumph in his first try with winners and he should get a similar stalking trip with Antonio Reyes aboard.

Goldfire will be making his first start since he finished third in a one-mile, second-level allowance on turf at Turf Paradise Feb. 3. Trained by Barbara Heads, Goldfire rallied to finish second in the $35,000 Luke Kruytbosch Stakes in his previous start so he shouldn’t mind the move back to dirt. He won a $30,000 optional maiden claiming race at Hastings as a 3-year-old last year and also won a first-level allowance race going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf at Turf Paradise last November.

Shintoism will appreciate the drop in class after chasing Taylors Deal in the B.C. Cup Stellar’s Jay and High End Man in the Richmond Derby Trial.