Hastings: Tracy pursues 1,000-win milestone

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Greg Tracy has an excellent chance of winning his 1,000th race this weekend at either Hastings or Northlands Park. Tracy had won 998 races going into Thursday and he has three horses entered at Northlands Friday, four Saturday, and two at Hastings Saturday.

If he does get to the milestone he thinks it will come Saturday.

“The horses I have in on Friday aren’t as live as the ones Saturday,” he said. “I think I have a good shot with both of the horses entered at Hastings.”

Tracy’s first chance at Hastings comes in the third race with Brave Star in a bottom-level maiden claiming race. Brave Star beat winners in the bushes when he debuted at Sunflower Downs in Princeton June 29, and then forced a quick pace before tiring in his first start at Hastings, which came in a $5,000 maiden claiming race July 15. He is the consensus choice in Daily Racing Form .

Lemon Loaf also looks very live in the sixth race, a $17,500 claiming race for fillies and mares which have never won two races, or B.C.-bred nonwinners of three. The 1 1/16-mile race drew nine horses and will serve as Saturday’s feature.

Lemon Loaf is a fresh horse and is coming off two solid efforts going 6 1/2 furlongs in $15,000 claiming races for nonwinners of two at Northlands. She almost won a $30,000 maiden claiming race going a mile and 70 yards as a 2-year-old at the Fair Grounds last year, so she shouldn’t have any trouble handling the added distance.

Lemon Loaf’s lone win came in a maiden special weight race at Northlands last year on July 1, and in her next start she was thrown to the wolves in the Grade 3, $300,000 Canadian Derby, finishing sixth in the 11-horse field. She went unplaced in the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks in her next start before being turned out for the year.

Lemon Loaf rallied to finish second in her first start this year June 15 and then set the pace before tiring late in her latest race, July 12.

Lemon Loaf gets in light with apprentice Alex Marti riding at 113 pounds.

Satellite Debris looks like the one to beat. Trained by Terry Clyde, Satellite Debris rallied to finish third in a $25,000 claiming race for 3-year-old fillies when she stretched out to 1 1/16 miles for the first time June 15. She came back to run an even race in a $25,000 claiming sprint July 22.