Hastings: Stellar's Jay has competitive field of 10

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Taylors Deal didn’t scare anyone from running in the $50,000 B.C. Cup Stellar’s Jay at Hastings on Monday. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds drew 10 horses and is easily the most-interesting race on the 10-race B.C. Cup Day card.

Taylors Deal, a half-brother to Taylor Said, who will be a heavy favorite to win the B.C. Cup Classic, looks formidable. He is coming off a second-place finish behind his stablemate Devil in Disguise in the $50,000 Chris Loseth at 1 1/16 miles July 2, and it was a race he clearly needed. Trained by Troy Taylor, Taylors Deal had been off since he won his third race in a row in an allowance sprint at Hastings on April 14. His two previous wins in the streak were at Turf Paradise, where he won the Lost in the Fog Juvenile last Dec. 26 and the $75,000 Turf Paradise Derby on Feb. 25.

Taylors Deal will carry high weight of 125 pounds in the Stellar’s Jay and the heavy load may have had something to do with the full field.

Fernando Perez rides Taylors Deal.

High End Man figures to be the second choice in the wagering, and trainer Pete Gregory is looking for another strong performance from this son of Joey Franco. He was an easy winner of a 1 1/16-mile first-level allowance race July 21.

Trainer Phil Hall thinks Unquiet will be able to rate in his first attempt at a middle distance. A homebred son of Quiet Cash, Unquiet is coming off a front-running win in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race July 8. In his previous race he finished behind Dougs Buddy in the $50,000 Western Canada Handicap at Northlands Park on June 16.

“We have been sending him because he has so much natural speed,” said Hall. “He rates in the mornings, and I don’t see why he won’t in a race.”

Unquiet drew post 2, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Enrique Gonzalez use some of his speed go get into a good position going into the first of three turns.

There is plenty of other speed in the field, which should help the deep closers, particularly Wilo Kat. Trained by John Snow, Wilo Kat beat High End Man by a nose June 17, partly because of a very slow pace, but didn’t make much of an impact when he finished fourth in the Chris Loseth.

Distaff: Dashing Daisy seeks repeat

Dashing Daisy will try and defend her title in the Distaff. The 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mare drew nine horses and appears to be a wide-open event

Trained by Troy Taylor, Dashing Daisy is peaking at the right time. In her best performance this year, she looked sharp winning a $25,000 claiming race going 1 1/16 miles July 22. Her tactical speed could give her the edge over Wando Woman.

Wando Woman, second in the Distaff last year, is coming off a fast-closing second in the $50,000 Strawberry Morn at 1 1/16 miles July 15. She is trained by Cindy Krasner.

Dogwood: Pace suits Racing for Gold

Racing for Gold should have an honest pace to work with in the $50,000 Dogwood for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. Trained by Phil Hall, Racing for Gold rallied to win a $50,000 optional sprint June 30, and Hall likes the way she is coming up to her first attempt at a middle distance.

Officer’s Charm, Willamette, I Want to Dust Her, and Bamboo Dream look like the main players in the 6 1/2-furlong Debutante for 2-year-old fillies.

◗ Proud Victor looks like the one they will have to catch in the Nursery for 2-year-olds.