Hastings: Joey's Jewel shows solid form in sprint feature

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Joey’s Jewel will try to win her fourth race from five starts this year when she runs in a $25,000 claiming race restricted to British Columbia-bred 3-year-old fillies at Hastings on Friday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew seven horses and appears to be a wide-open event.

Trained by Charlene Miller, Joey’s Jewel is coming off a win in a similar race in May and the only blemish on her record this season is when she tried to run with stakes-caliber fillies in an optional $50,000 claiming race going 1 1/16 miles on May 14. She was an easy winner of a $10,000 maiden race in her first start of the year and then stepped up and beat $12,500 open claimers April 30. After her failed attempt going long for the first time, Joey’s Jewel came from a stalking position to edge Dina Light in her latest start. Joey’s Jewel figures to get a nice trip from a stalking position and the only real concern is that she hasn’t raced since May 28. Her works have been solid, however, and since 2008 Miller has a 17 percent strike rate with horses returning between 31 and 60 days.

Joey’s Jewel has been ridden by Richard Hamel in all of her seven career starts and he retains the mount.

Speed will be provided by Nicotiana and Dina Light.

Nicotiana is on a roll with two straight front-running wins for trainer Mel Snow. She beat next-out winner We’regoodtogo in a $20,000 maiden claiming race May 27 before beating open $17,500 claimers July 1.

Nicotiana drew the rail and once again gets in light with apprentice Marlo Dunn riding at 111 pounds.

Dina Light will appreciate the move back to a sprint and the drop in class after a failed attempt going 1 1/16 miles in an optional $50,000 claimer on June 12. Making her first start after being claimed by trainer Terry Clyde, Dina Light set an honest pace but faded to finish sixth in the seven-horse field. In her previous start for trainer William La Vanway she led for all but the final few strides in Joey Jewel’s May 28 win.

The likely contested pace could play into the hands of Investsource, who is running for a tag for the first time since she came from well off the pace to win a $20,000 maiden claiming race last September. Trained by Harold Barroby, Investsource is coming off of a dull effort in the $50,000 Supernaturel on July 3 and will undoubtedly appreciate the much easier company.