Hastings holding fundraiser for Friesen

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Saturday is April Friesen Day at Hastings. A silent auction and other events will be held to raise money to help with the costs associated with her recovery from the serious injuries she suffered in a spill earlier this meet. Friesen had surgery to repair her upper back, and it will be a long recuperation period. She expects to make an appearance Saturday at Hastings.

"It is going to be a long haul, slow but sure," Friesen said. "I have a follow-up appointment with my surgeon on the 29th, and it will still be a couple of months before I can even start physiotherapy. It's been up and down. There are some good days, and some that aren't so good. It is kind of what you would expect."

Friesen, 41, has won 49 races from 397 mounts in her career, and she also has been a trainer, winning 6 races from 66 starts.

* Clear to Canada looks like the one to beat in a $50,000 optional claimer for 3-year-olds that will serve as the feature race. All five horses entered will be stretching out to 1 1/16 miles for the first time this year.

Trained by Troy Taylor, Clear to Canada is coming off of a third-place finish behind Grade 3-placed Posse Power in the $50,000 Auburn Stakes at Emerald Downs on May 23. In his only try at 1 1/16 miles, Clear to Canada finished sixth in the $107,000 Ascot Graduation at Hastings last year.