Hastings: Modern looks to rebound in Saturday allowance

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Modern ran like a horse who needed a race when he finished fourth as the heavy favorite in an allowance race for 3-year-olds at Hastings on July 14. He could make amends in a first-level allowance race for 3-year-olds and up that headlines a seven-race card at Hastings on Saturday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew seven horses.

Trainer Dino Condilenios is hoping for an improved performance from Modern, and he shouldered some of the responsibility for the son of Tiznow’s disappointing effort last time out. It was Modern’s first start since Jan. 8, when he won a $30,000 optional-claiming race for maidens going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf at Turf Paradise.

“He may have fooled me on just how fit he was,” Condilenios said. “He was working fast, but we really never set him down. He should be a lot tighter now that he’s had a race, and I hope I’m right about having undertrained him into his first race. I still think he’s a pretty nice horse.”

Modern was ridden confidently by Aaron Gryder, who took a strong hold while the horse stalked Stole It early in the race. When Gryder asked Modern to pick it up at the quarter pole, however, he came up empty.

Gryder will ride Success Rate in the $50,000 Count Lathum Handicap at Northlands Park on Saturday, and he will be replaced aboard Modern by Frank Fuentes. It will be interesting to see if Fuentes is more aggressive with Modern or eases him into a stalking position behind potential pacesetters such as Graffiti Grace and Amazing Rozi.

El Capone rallied to win a similar race July 1 and, being a British Columbia-bred, is still eligible for the conditions of the race. Trained by John Snow, El Capone should appreciate the shape of the race, and the only real concern is that he is picking up four pounds off his win and will be conceding nine pounds to Modern, who gets in at 115 pounds.

In his previous start June 9, El Capone just missed to Stormin for Becka, who came back to win the race Modern exits.

Snow also entered Twistgrips, who may need a race after finishing a troubled sixth in that first-level allowance race won by Stormin for Becka.

Amazing Rozi looked like a potential stakes horse when he won his debut for trainer Lenore Debois on April 20 but has not progressed. Nonetheless, he should appreciate the move back to a sprint following his first try at a route in the $50,000 Chris Loseth Handicap going 1 1/16 miles July 1. He worked a snappy five furlongs in 1:00.80 last Sunday and could be dangerous if he clears early with Scott Williams riding.

The 4-year-old filly Graffiti Grace will be making her first start since finishing fifth in a first-level allowance race for fillies and mares May 26.