Hastings: Tall order for Burnin' Britches in Emerald Downs Cap

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Burnin’ Britches will get a serious class test when she runs in the $50,000 Emerald Downs at Hastings Saturday. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies drew six horses and goes as race 6 on the seven-race card. The last race goes at 4:20 p.m. Pacific, which should give local hockey fans plenty of time to get home to watch the Vancouver Canucks take on the Boston Bruins in the second game of the Stanley Cup Final. Hastings went with seven races because of the 5 p.m. start of the hockey game.

Burnin’ Britches will have to be at her best to beat stakes winners Castinette Dancer and Overvalued. Trained by Greg Tracy, Burnin’ Britches is trying stakes company for the first time but if she runs as well as she did in her seven-length win over Belle Evangeline in a first-level $50,000 optional claiming race May 14, she will probably be the winner.

With Kevah Nicholls aboard, Burnin’ Britches stalked a very fast pace before taking control of the race at the quarter pole of the 6 1/2-furlong sprint. She earned an 85 Beyer Speed Figure, which is 10 points higher than Castinette Dancer received for her win over Overvalued in the Boulevard Casino.

Nicholls retains the mount on Burnin’ Britches.

Castinette Dancer has won both of her starts at Hastings for trainer Troy Taylor. Taylor claimed her for on behalf of Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella for $20,000 in her second start, which came at Golden Gate.

“We went to look at another horse in the paddock and I told Glen I thought she looked like the best horse in the field,” said Taylor. “She ran a decent race in her first start so we took her when she came back for the same price. I don’t think she is anything special and we probably had a big fitness edge over Overvalued in the last race.”

Castinette Dancer does her best running late and it could set up for her if Burnin’ Britches and Overvalued hook up early.

Trainer Tracy McCarthy wasn’t disappointed when Overvalued got nipped at the wire by Castinette Dancer in the Boulevard Casino.

“It is a long season and we want to have her around all year, so I didn’t see the need to drill her for her first start of the year,” said McCarthy.

Overvalued won her first two starts at 2, including the $50,000 Lassie. She appears to have just one way of going and there isn’t much doubt she will on the one they are chasing early.