Herbie D, Modern meet again in John Longden 6000

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – A couple of intriguing questions should be answered when Herbie D and Modern square off Monday in the $50,000 John Longden 6000 at Hastings. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew eight horses and headlines a holiday card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

The first question concerns the status of Herbie D. He went on a long hiatus after winning the Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs in 2013, and his comeback race in the $50,000 George Royal on April 26 was somewhat disappointing.

Trained by Robert Gilker, Herbie D showed his usual speed but was clearly spent heading into the stretch and finished seventh.

Gilker is hoping for a better effort Monday.

“Blame the trainer,” he said. “He’s doing fine. The race is there, so here we are.”

Pedro Alvarado picks up the mount from Antonio Reyes, who will ride Classic Sense.

Can Modern, who is trained by Dino Condilenios, withstand another duel with Herbie D and still hold on to win, as he did in the George Royal?

“Modern is doing great, and they’ll have to get by him,” said Condilenios. “Don’t count out Classic Sense, though. He has really improved since he ran in the George Royal, and I think he’s going to run a big race.”

Classic Sense finished a fast-closing fifth in his first start for Condilenios in the George Royal.

Key contenders

Herbie D (Last 3 Beyers: 67-100-101)

He clearly needed his first start back and could take a big step forward with a race behind him.

Formulator Fact: Over the past five years, Gilker has a 19 percent strike rate with horses making their second start following a layoff.

Title Contender (Last 3 Beyers: 77-74-63)

Trained by Anita Bolton, he looked like the winner when he took the lead between calls in the George Royal, but Modern came back to edge him by a neck.

He is reunited with Rico Walcott, who has been his regular rider since he won the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby in 2013.

Modern (Last 3 Beyers: 78-86-82)

He was very game in winning the George Royal, and the only concern is that he might bounce after such a big effort coming off a layoff.

Mr. Bowling (Last 3 Beyers: 75-77-85)

The Troy Taylor trainee isn’t the most consistent horse around, but he won both of his races running over fast tracks at Hastings with Mario Gutierrez aboard.

Over the past five years, Gutierrez and Taylor have teamed up to win at a 31 percent clip at Hastings.