Heads tries to stay hot with four Sunday starters

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Barbara Heads is hoping her hot streak will continue with the four horses she has entered at Hastings on Sunday. On Monday, Heads won four races, including the $50,000 British Columbia Debutante with Infinite Patience and the $50,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club with Sunburst.

Infinite Patience won the 6 1/2-furlong Debutante by 11 1/4 lengths. Sunburst was equally impressive in her 7 1/4-length romp in the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The homebred daughter of Sungold, owned by Russell and Lois Bennett, stamped herself a serious contender for the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks on Sept. 7.

“They both came out of their races in excellent shape,” said Heads. “They are two fillies that make my job easy. Talented and smart, they are a joy to be around.”

Beginning with Mori in the first race, three of the horses Heads has entered Sunday will be among the favorites. Wishable, in race 2, will need to turn things around to make an impact.

Mori could be gone if she breaks on top in the bottom-level claiming race for fillies and mares.

Sangria debuts for Heads in a maiden special weight race for 2-year-old fillies in race 3.

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“She’s a really nice filly,” said Heads. “She has a chance to be a decent horse. She’s done everything right so far.”

Speculator is listed at 3-1 in a nonwinners-of-three allowance race in race 7.

A Bennett homebred, Speculator is coming off a victory over stakes winners Highway Boss and Square Dancer in a $16,000 claimer on July 28.

“He’s been a hard horse to train,” said Heads. “He’s very nervous. In his last race he relaxed nicely on the lead.”

Antonio Reyes retains the mount.

◗ Jockey Scott Williams is out indefinitely with a cracked a vertebra. The injury happened when a horse he was riding stumbled and fell galloping out of a race last Friday.

◗ Amadeo Perez, who is dealing with a separated collarbone, hopes to be back in the saddle next weekend. One of his mounts is Explode in the Grade 3, $250,000 Canadian Derby next Sunday.

◗ Enrique Gonzalez booked off his mounts Monday to be with his family after his father died. He should be back next Friday.

◗ Longtime Equibase chart caller Mike Ryan died Tuesday morning. He had been fighting Lewy body Disease for many years.

Ryan, 71, worked as a patrol judge at Hastings before becoming a chart caller for Sports Eye in the early 1980s. He called chart for Equibase at Assinboia Downs, Stampede Park, and Northlands Park.

An avid golfer and Scrabble player, he was the Scrabble champion in British Columbia more than once.