Herbie D should be tighter for second start off long layoff
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Herbie D had been off for a little more than a year when he finished second in an optional $35,000 claiming race at on Aug. 26. With a race behind him, Herbie D figures to be double tough coming back at the same level in the first race at Hastings Sunday.
The 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up drew six horses and kicks off an eight-race card.
Trained by Rob Gilker, Herbie D looked like he might win his comeback race when he opened up a clear lead on the stretch turn. However, the 2013 Grade 3 Longacres Mile winner couldn’t hold off Twistgrips, who came from last and got through along the rail while making his usual strong late move.
Herbie D will have to deal with other speed, but the multiple stakes winner is clearly the class of the field, and with 12 wins from 20 starts he knows where the wire is.
Once again Herbie D will have to fend off Twistgrips. The 7-year-old Twistgrips has aged like fine wine. Four of his seven wins came this year, and his only loss in five starts at the meet was when he finished third in his lone route attempt this season.
Trained by John Snow, Twistgrips has never won a stakes, but he earned a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure when he finished third in the Longacres Mile in 2014.
Race 1
KEY CONTENDERS
Herbie D, by Orchid’s Devil
Last 3 Beyers: 82-81-87
◗ The classy 8-year-old has had two solid works since his big effort off the layoff and appears to be primed for another strong performance.
FORMULATOR FACT: The past five years at Hastings, Gilker has a 35 percent strike rate with horses making their second start following a layoff.
Twistgrips, by Benchmark
Last 3 Beyers: 84-73-83
◗ He hasn’t lost sprinting this year and there is plenty of potential speed to set him up again.
Bluegrass Angus, by Bluegrass Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 71-76-72
◗ Trained by Craig MacPherson, he was last year’s top 3-year-old at Hastings.
◗ He has started only twice this year, and he could move forward after finishing third in an optional $40,000 claiming race at Emerald Downs on Sept. 3.
It’s in Command, by Second in Command
Last 3 Beyers: 78-75-75
◗ Trained by Harold Barroby, this 4-year-old is trending in the right direction and he may have been trying to tell us something when he worked a bullet four furlongs in 47.20 seconds over a track rated good last Sunday.