Hastings: Wilo Kat preps for B.C. Cup Classic

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer John Snow doesn’t usually bring his stakes horses back in two weeks but he said Wilo Kat is “jumping out of his skin,” so the 4-year-old will use Friday’s feature at Hastings as a prep for the $75,000 B.C. Cup Classic on Aug. 5.

Wilo Kat, second in the $50,000 Lieutenant Governors on July 1, heads a strong field of seven older horses running in a 1 1/16-mile money allowance.

Last year Wilo Kat was off for more than a month when he finished second in the B.C. Cup Stellar’s Jay as a 3-year-old.

“He was almost uncontrollable going into the Stellar’s Jay last year,” said Snow. “I would have to give him a couple of strong works before the Classic so I’m hoping the race on Friday will take some of the edge off. He also couldn’t be doing any better.”

Wilo Kat won a race with the same conditions going 6 1/2 furlongs April 28 and finished second going 1 1/16 miles in the Sir Winston Churchill before his strong effort in the Lieutenant Governors.

Antonio Reyes retains the mount.

Liberty Cap would easily win this if he can regain the form that saw him finish second to Cash Rules in back-to-back stakes at Calder last year. After edging Liberty Cap by a head in the $75,000 Darn That Alarm last Sept. 1, Cash Rules won the Grade 3 Spend a Buck at Calder with a 97 Beyer Speed Figure.

Liberty Cap is making just his second start of the year and wasn’t much of a factor when he made his seasonal debut in a six-furlong allowance at Emerald Downs on June 1.

A 5-year-old son of Street Cry, Liberty Cap has been moved to Troy Taylor’s barn at Hastings and horses usually improve when they make their first start for Taylor. Liberty Cap will also appreciate the move to a middle distance.

Fransor’s Finest beat multiple stakes winner Devil in Disguise for the same condition June 16 and came back with a solid effort in the Lieutenant Governors, finishing a fast-closing third. Trained by Phil Hall, Fransor’s Finest romped going 1 1/16 miles in a $15,000 claiming race in his first start at the meet May 12.

Former stakes winner Crew Leader could be dangerous making his first start for trainer Teddy Hurt, who has won right back with the last two horses he has claimed. Acting on behalf of Kirk Sutherland, Hurt haltered Crew Leader for $25,000 on July 7.