Hastings: Strawberry Morn edge to late-running Wando Woman

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The $50,000 Strawberry Morn for fillies and mares at Hastings Saturday features a classic confrontation between speed, Classic Alley Kat, and a deep closer, Wando Woman. The 1 1/16-mile race drew eight horses and goes as race 4 on the eight-race card that begins at 3:20 p.m. Pacific.

The race should set up for Wando Woman, who will be ridden by Frank Fuentes. Wando Woman came from last to edge Caged Mistress going 1 1/16 miles in the $50,000 Vancouver Sun June 25. Along with Classic Alley Kat, there is plenty of other potential speed in the Strawberry Morn field. Trainer Cindy Krasner is hoping the race unfolds in Wando Woman’s favor.

“You just never know how it is going to go,” she said. “There is a lot of speed in the field and it should set up for her, but it just depends on how everybody goes. Somebody should go with Classic Alley Kat, but there are no guarantees any of them will.”

A wet track could also be in the cards, and Wando Woman handled the sloppy conditions just fine in the Vancouver Sun. Krasner also entered P. S. Touch Down, who finished third in the Sun.

“They are both training well and we just need a little bit of luck,” she said. “Wando Woman handles a wet track a little better but they will both plow through it.”

Classic Alley Kat is trained by Elizabeth Stolzenberg, who is having a breakout year with 18 wins from 39 starters for a 46 percent winning rate. Classic Alley Kat has also moved her game to a new level. She dominated her rivals in two sprint stakes at Hastings, the Brighouse Belles and Senate Appointee, and she scored another front-running victory when she beat Alywin in the $50,000 Wild Rose at Northlands Park in her last start June 12.

Classic Alley Kat has never gone farther than 6 1/2 furlongs, however, and she figures to be under the gun right from the start from either Tierra Del Feugo or Cry Cry Cry.

Kimmyv can also wing it early and she is looking to regain her form from last year when she won the $75,000 Distaff at Emerald Downs last August. She forced an honest pace in the Distaff, and after taking the lead at the top of the stretch she held off the late move from Summer Song. Her best finish from three starts this year was a third in the six-furlong Hastings Handicap at Emerald Downs May 15.