Here's Hannah a cut or two above rivals in Monashee

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – For a brief moment, trainer Phil Hall had the crazy idea that he would take a shot at the 4-year-old Here’s Hannah with his sensational 3-year-old filly Summerland in the Monashee Handicap for fillies and mares at Hastings Saturday.

“You never know what can happen, and if Here’s Hannah didn’t show up I would have looked like a genius,” said Hall. “We’ll wait for another opportunity.”

So the highly anticipated meeting between the two remarkable fillies will likely take place in the Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina on Sept. 28.

The Monashee looks like another walk in the park for Here’s Hannah, who is perfect at the 1 1/16-mile distance and has just one loss in 10 career starts. None of the four horses she will be facing has her kind of speed, and she figures to cruise through moderate early fractions with her usual rider Richard Hamel aboard. Her only loss came in the $50,000 Emerald Downs at Hastings when Hamel wasn’t available.

Trained by John Morrison, the 4-year-old B C Stables homebred figures to move forward following her 2 1/2-length win over the Hall-trained Good Luck to You in the 1 1/16-mile Strawberry Morn. It was Here’s Hannah’s first route this year and just her second race at the meet.

“The Strawberry Morn really tightened her up,” said Morrison. “I am looking forward to watching another spectacular performance from her.”

She will be packing high weight of 126 pounds when she breaks from post 4.

KEY CONTENDERS

Here’s Hannah, by Numaany

Last 3 Beyers: 76-84-74

◗ She is a complete standout and barring unforeseen circumstances shouldn’t have any trouble leading throughout.

Sailingforthesun, by Sungold

Last 3 Beyers: 71-72-73

◗ The 7-year-old was game in defeat when she lost the 2018 Grade 3 Ballerina by a neck to Victress, and could be sitting on a peak performance in her third start this year.

◗ She wants to be involved early and was taken out of her game when she broke a step slowly in the Strawberry Morn.

◗ She looked great when she worked a sharp five-furlongs in 1:00.20 July 7.

“She was up against it after not breaking very well in the Strawberry Morn,” said trainer Robbie Anderson. “She is doing really well and it wouldn’t hurt if the track came up a bit wet.”

◗ She will break from the rail with Jeff Burningham riding.

Good Luck to You, by Bellamy Road

Last 3 Beyers: 72-73-79

◗ Following her runner-up finish in the Strawberry Morn, Hall made a smart move in shipping her to Century Mile, where she won the $75,000 Shirley Vargo on June 15.

“I was thinking of taking her back to Century next week ,” said Hall. “But, she’s doing well so we’ll just keep her here for now. Hopefully someone will put pressure on Hannah.”