Hastings: Pineapple waits one day and finds softer spot

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Pineapple looks like the one they will have to catch and beat in a $15,000 claiming race for 3-year-old fillies that will serve as Sunday’s feature at Hastings. The six-furlong sprint drew seven horses and goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Pineapple scratched out of an allowance race on Saturday where she would have been a longshot to beat a field that included seven stakes winners. She figures to be one of the favorites in this much easier spot and the main question facing handicappers is her ability to carry her considerable speed around two turns.

Trained by Dino Condilenios, Pineapple finished second when she debuted in an optional $30,000 maiden-claiming race won by Bridge Jumper, who came right back to win the $50,000 New Westminster in his next start. In her next start, Pineapple set a wicked pace before bolting when she ran in an optional $40,000 maiden-claiming race going six furlongs. Proud Victor, who chased her through the early stages of the race before tiring to finish third, won his next three starts, including the $50,000 B.C. Cup Nursery and the $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity.

Pineapple closed out her three-race campaign with an easy win going 3 1/2 furlongs in a $20,000 maiden-claiming race. She is clearly the speed of the speed, and if she breaks on top she could be gone.

Frank Fuentes rides Pineapple.

Alwaysredonsunday also likes to be involved early, and the Craig MacPherson trainee used her speed to win a $20,000 maiden-claiming race going 6 1/2 furlongs last Sept. 23. After setting the pace and tiring going 1 1/16 miles in the $75,000 Fantasy, she closed out her 2-year-old season at Golden Gate Fields, where her best finish in two starts was a fourth in a $40,000 starter race.

If a duel develops it would benefit Lil Miss Bean, who had a productive 2-year-old season for trainer Tak Inouye. She won her debut in a $20,000 maiden-claiming race, and in her best race she came from well back to finish second in the B.C. Cup Debutante.

Uniqua could have a fitness edge with three starts at Turf Paradise this year. In her latest, she finished fourth in an $8,000 claiming race March 16.

Foxy Rocket and Lost My Aura figure to be involved right from the start.

Faidrality, who won her debut in a $10,000 maiden-claiming race and then went unplaced in the B.C. Cup Debutante, rounds out the field.