Hastings: Heavy favorite Wando Woman may not get quick pace she likes

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Wando Woman will be a short price when she tries to win her third straight stakes race in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Distaff. The 1 1/8-mile Distaff drew six fillies and mares and goes as the fourth race. It is one of seven stakes races for British Columbia-breds that make up the bulk of the 10-race B.C. Cup Day card at Hastings on Monday. All seven stakes are worth $50,000.

Trained by Cindy Krasner, Wando Woman is coming off wins against open company in the Vancouver Sun and Strawberry Morn. A couple of key ingredients that helped her win the 1 1/16-mile races could be missing. Both wins came over sloppy tracks and in each race there were quick paces that helped set up her good late move. This was particularly true in the Strawberry Morn when Classic Alley Kat set extremely fast fractions.

Krasner wasn’t concerned about how the race might set up.

“She is coming up to the race as good as ever,” said Krasner. “With Classic Alley Kat going in the Sprint there won’t be the same kind of wicked fractions so we may have take her out of her game a little bit.”

Frank Fuentes rides Wando Woman, who finished second in the Dogwood on B.C. Cup Day last year.

Dashing Daisy has won four of her last five races for trainer Troy Taylor this year but all of her wins came in sprints and against much easier company. In her last race she beat Daymaker in a $25,000 claiming race. She was unplaced in her only start going a mile and an eighth but she finished second in both of her starts at 1 1/16 miles and she has never been as good as she is right now.

The B.C. Cup Nursery for 2-year-olds drew six horses and starts off the best B.C. Cup Day card in recent memory. Trained by Elizabeth Stolzenberg, Herescomelucky came from a stalking position to win the $50,000 New Westminster in his second start.

Joint Choice and Royal Victor look like the main threats. Joint Choice scored an easy win in a $20,000 maiden claiming race for B.C.-breds going 3 1/2 furlongs July 15.

Royal Victor finished third in a highly rated maiden special weight race July 17.

Both races for 3-year-olds drew 11-horse fields but the similarities end there. The Stellar’s Jay for colts and geldings has a strong favorite in Jump Up and Kissme while the Dogwood for fillies appears to be one of the most wide-open races on the card. Victory With Class is the class of the field but she is a bit suspect at a mile and a sixteenth.

Tecolote and Camino also figure to attract plenty of support in the Dogwood.

The 6 1/2-furlong Sprint drew five horses and features a matchup between Don’twaitforme and three horses owned by Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella, including the speedy mare Classic Alley Kat.

Don’twaitforme has never finished worse than second in his six-race career and he was an easy winner over Silly Fella in his only start this year on July 10.

Cherokee Notion is also as honest as they come with a 4-5-4-record from 15 starts.

Classic Alley Kat won three straight sprint stakes before setting a wicked pace in her second-place finish behind Wando Woman in the 1 1/16-mile Strawberry Morn.

Gabigotherway and Sunnyside Gal look like the main players in the 6 1/2-furlong Debutante for 2-year-old fillies.

Gabigotherway set extremely quick fractions on her way to an impressive debut win going six furlongs. Sunnyside Gal finished second to the sensational Claresmiezie in a maiden special weight race May 23 and also in the Lassie July 9. Claresmiezie won the $50,000 Princess Margaret Stakes at Northlands by over 15 lengths Friday night.