Hastings matches dropper, sharp horse on rise
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Lasting Spice will try to make amends when she takes on a sharp Dashing Daisy in the feature at Hastings Friday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares running for a top claiming price of $25,000 drew eight horses and goes as race 7 on the eight-race card, which begins at 7 p.m. Pacific.
Trained by Tracy McCarthy, Lasting Spice finished fourth as the solid favorite in a first-level $35,000 optional claiming race April 30. She stalked a quick pace, and after taking a half-length lead into the stretch she tired late. In her previous start she romped to a four-length win in a $25,000 claiming race last Sept. 10. The combination of having a race behind her and the drop in class could make her double tough Friday. Plus, she came back to work a bullet five furlongs in 59.80 seconds May 20.
Keveh Nicholls retains the mount.
Dashing Daisy is the sharpest horse in the field, with two straight easy wins. In her first start of the year she had no trouble winning a $12,500 claiming race for nonwinners of two. She beat open $12,500 claimers May 8 and once again she had control of the race at the top of the stretch and wasn’t under any pressure as she widened on the field.
Trained by Troy Taylor, Dashing Daisy drew the rail and she figures to get a cozy stalking trip behind Lasting Spice and Vying Ty Grr with Mario Gutierrez retaining the mount.
Trainer Barbara Heads is taking the blinkers off Vying Ty Grr. A stakes winner at 2, Vying Ty Grr won a $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds going 6 1/2 furlongs in her final start of 2010. Although that win came without blinkers, she wore blinkers when she ran against older fillies and mares for the first time in a $25,000 claiming race May 6. She set the pace before tiring to finish sixth and it is possible she didn’t care for the sloppy conditions.
With an honest pace expected, the race could set up nicely for either We Are One or Random Highs.
We Are One came from well off the pace to win a $25,000 claiming race going six furlongs April 16 and then couldn’t catch Sweet N Sour for the same price at 6 1/2 furlongs May 6.
Random Highs is coming off a fast-closing third in a first-level $30,000 optional claiming race April 30.