Hastings: Shrug out for another stakes win in Lieutenant Governors’

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Shrug will be looking for his third stakes win in his fourth start at the meet when he runs in the $50,000 Lieutenant Governors’ at Hastings on Monday. The Canada Day feature for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses and headlines a 10-race card that includes the Monashee for fillies and mares, the Chris Loseth for 3-year-olds, and the Supernaturel for 3-year-old fillies. All four races are worth $50,000 and will be contested over 1 1/16 miles.

Trained by Dino Condilenios, Shrug is the perfect kind of horse for the oval at Hastings, which is just longer than five furlongs. He has good speed but doesn’t need the lead. He set a slow pace going 6 1/2 furlongs in the $50,000 George Royal in his first start at Hastings on April 28, but in his second start here Shrug lost a spirited duel with Herbie D in the 6 1/2-furlong John Longden. He got his revenge in the 1 1/16-mile Sir Winston Churchill, where he won going around three turns for the first time.

Condilenios does not want Shrug to get involved in another duel with Herbie D in the Lieutenant Governors’, and he is hoping The Gov would be the one doing the hard work early. Condilenios also entered Stratify.

“If The Gov doesn’t go, Stratify has enough speed to put pressure on Herbie D,” said Condilenios.”

Stratify used his good speed to win a first-level allowance race going 6 1/2 furlongs May 20 and then rallied to finish third after getting off to a poor start when he stretched out to 1 1/16 miles in an allowance race June 16.

Frank Fuentes retains the mount on Shrug, and Richard Hamel picks up the mount up from Fuentes on Stratify.

Herbie D had his five-race winning streak ended in the Churchill, where he finished third but he was coming off just one sprint this year, and he could take a big step forward in his second-straight route.

Trained by Rob Gilker, Herbie D was very impressive beating Shrug in the Longden, and once again he is the one they will have to deal with right from the start.

“We’re expecting another real good race,” said Gilker.

If they get carried away up front it could set up for Wilo Kat, who rallied to finish second in the Churchill, or possibly the rapidly improving Fransor’s Finest, who edged multiple stakes winner Devil in Disguise in the race Stratify exits.

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