Hastings: Late Affair tries to stretch win streak to five
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Late Affair will try to make it five wins in a row when she runs in a first-level allowance race with a $35,000 claiming option at Hastings on Thursday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares drew seven horses and will go as race 6 on the seven-race card that begins at 3:20 p.m. Pacific.
Trained by Elizabeth Stolzenberg, Late Affair began her winning streak with an easy win in a $5,000 maiden race April 23. In her first start with winners, she crushed a field of $7,500 conditional claimers by more than 11 lengths. Despite a hefty jump in class, she easily handled Notis Her in a $25,000 claiming race June 11. Late Affair won her next start at Emerald Downs in allowance company for trainer Michael Puhich on Aug. 20.
Late Affair looks like the best speed in the field and could be tough to catch, if she breaks alertly from her outside post. She also can stalk, so jockey Mario Gutierrez has more than one option.
Cry Cry Cry looks like the main threat. She won and was claimed at this level June 25. In her first start for trainer Rosann Anderson, she finished sixth in the $50,000 Strawberry Morn going 1 1/16 miles. She will appreciate the easier company and also the move back to a distance at which she has compiled a solid 3-1-0 record from six starts. Similar to Late Affair, Cry Cry Cry has good speed but doesn’t need the lead to win.
Otero is looking for her first win of the year and could get it if Cry Cry Cry and Late Affair get caught up in a duel. Trained by Dave Forster, Otero closed with good speed to finish third behind Cry Cry Cry in her last start June 25. A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred, Otero was a stakes winner at 2 and 3. She is reunited with Frank Fuentes, who was aboard for her wins in the Lassie and Emerald Downs.
Victory With Class is the lone 3-year-old in the field and will be running against older horses for the first time in her eight-race career. Trained by Terry Clyde, Victory With Class won two stakes races last year, including the $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity. She won’t mind the move back to a sprint after finishing third in the 1 1/16-mile B.C. Cup Dogwood on Aug. 1.
Lady Alex is trying to regroup after a couple of dull efforts.
Sweet N Sour and Notis Her round out the field.