Hastings: Taylor and Todd may continue stakes roll with Marketway in Boulevard Casino

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Once again trainer Troy Taylor and owner Glen Todd will have the favorite in a stakes race at Hastings. What else is new?

They have won more than half of the stakes at the meet and by Sunday they will probably have another in the bank if Evelyn’s Dancer runs true to form in Saturday’s Supernaturel. Sunday, they have Marketway entered in the $50,000 Boulevard Casino for 2-year-old fillies. The six-furlong sprint drew seven horses, and while Marketway is a deserving favorite, she is by no means a cinch.

Taylor had Marketway ready to run a big race when she debuted in a $30,000 optional maiden claiming race May 21 but she bobbled at the start and couldn’t catch Foxy Rocket, who broke on top and never looked back. Marketway was given a valuable lesson when she came back to win a six-furlong $40,000 optional maiden claiming race June 15. She broke well enough and it looked like she wanted to go right to the front. Her jockey Fernando Perez had other ideas, however. Perez took a firm hold and eased her into a stalking position. She appeared to resist at first, but then settled in comfortably. Perez’s hand was forced when Lazaria Lass made an early move on the outside and Marketway immediately responded when asked. She dueled with Ten Thirty the rest of the way and prevailed by a half-length.

Her ability to rate could give her a big edge. She is a half-sister to $640,000 stakes winner Logic Way and Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby winner Big Truck, so the sky could be the limit.

Trainer Greg Tracy isn’t sure who he prefers between Foxy Rocket and Ten Thirty, who are both owned by Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. and will race uncoupled.

Ten Thirty ran a huge race to just miss behind Marketway in her debut. Foxy Rocket beat Marketway in her only start.

“I think they’ll both run big,” said Tracy. “Ten Thirty has a big advantage having gone six furlongs. Foxy Rocket seems to be the faster one and has had plenty of five-furlong works, so she should be fit enough.”

Rico Walcott, the barn’s main rider at Northlands Park, rides Foxy Rocket.

“The main reason we brought Rico out is that he is going to ride Foxy Rocket in her next start in the Sales Stakes at Northlands,” said Tracy.