Hastings: Saturday Nite Ride looks to rebound in Ballerina

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina for fillies and mares is one of three stakes races supporting the Grade 3, $100,000 Premiers Handicap on Monday at Hastings. The 1 1/8-mile Ballerina drew 12 horses and appears to be a wide-open event.

Saturday Nite Ride will try and make amends for her loss as the odds-on favorite in the $50,000 Delta Colleen. The 4-year-old filly easily won the Madamoiselle and City of Edmonton at Northlands Park and looked formidable in the Delta Colleen but gave up a clear lead at the top of the stretch to finish third. Trainer Troy Taylor is expecting her to bounce back Monday.

“She just didn’t run her race in the Delta Coleen,” Taylor said. “She’s trained really well coming into this race, though.”

Aaron Gryder retains the mount.

Madeira Park couldn’t warm up Saturday Nite Ride in Alberta, and following her win the 1 1/8-mile Delta Colleen, trainer Dave Forster said it was a combination of the added distance and a great ride by Rico Walcott that made the difference.

[Premiers Handicap: Get PPs, watch Monday's card live]

Walcott is back aboard Monday, and Forster was pleased with how she has trained since she scored the upset.

“Everything is good, and we’re obviously happy to have Rico back to ride her,” he said.

Miss Derek was rank early and tired in the stretch when she finished third as the favorite in the $100,000 B.C. Oaks. Trainer Craig MacPherson is hoping she’ll be more relaxed with the blinkers coming off.

Wando Woman is overdue to win. She closed with a rush to finish 1 1/2 lengths behind Madeira Park in the Delta Colleen and also rallied to finish second in the $65,000 Emerald Distaff at Emerald Downs in her previous start.

“This is by far the best she has gone into a race all year,” trainer Cindy Krasner said.

Cry Cry Cry has won four straight sprints, including the $50,000 Ladies Express on Sept. 2. She finished second the only time she went 1 1/8 miles and could be dangerous from a stalking position.

Locket, second in the B.C. Oaks in her last start, should be heard from late.

Juveniles stretch their legs

Juveniles will get their first chance at a middle distance in the $75,000 Ascot Graduation and the $75,000 Fantasy for 2-year-old fillies. Both races will be contested at 1 1/16 miles.

The Ascot appears to be a wide-open race, while the Fantasy looks like a battle between Ole’s Miss and Architecture.

Trained by Anita Bolton, Andallthatitmeans is coming off a desperate win going 6 1/2 furlongs over Neverabettercause in the $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity, and while he runs like a horse that figures to have a hard time stretching out to a middle distance, his half-brother Ookashada won the Futurity and the Ascot.

A longshot that might be worth taking a look at is Off the Top who had a rough trip in the Futurity. The Robert Anderson trainee is by Rosberg who won the Grade 3 Premiers going 1 3/8 miles. Off the Top’s dam, Sophie J., won the Ballerina and has produced five route winners, including the sensational Regal Red.

Ole’s Miss, trained by Tracy McCarthy, should be favored in the Fantasy off her impressive win in the Boulevard Casino on July 14. Trainer Dino Condilenios thinks he has a big shot to beat her with Architecture, who is coming off a second-place finish in the $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity.

“Ole’s Miss has been off for a long time, and my horse is by Dixie Chatter, so she should run all day,” Condilenios said.

Architecture is owned by Swift Thoroughbreds Inc., the leading owners at the meet.