Hey Didjanotis should get a good setup in claiming sprint

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – With plenty of speed lined up in a $25,000 claiming race for fillies and mares that will serve as Sunday’s feature at Hastings, it makes sense to look for the winner to come from a stalking position. Hey Didjanotis fits the bill, and considering that she is coming off a solid effort in her first start at the meet, she looks like the one to beat in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint that drew seven horses.

In her first start as a 4-year-old, Hey Didjanotis chased the lone speed but couldn’t catch Dear Lilly, who was an easy winner over Architecture in a $35,000 optional-claiming race May 2. Trained by Phil Hall, Hey Didjanotis held on well to finish third, though, and with two sharp interim works, she figures to move forward in her second start back.

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Hey Didjanotis also should appreciate the shape of the race. Instead of trying to force the issue, she should be able to settle in behind what figures to be a fast and contested pace like she did in both of her wins last year.

Keshawn Balgobin picks up the mount from leading rider Richard Hamel, who opts to ride Sabrina.

It is a wide-open race with mostly 4-year-olds trying to find their level as older horses.

Hidden Harbor is a proven commodity. Trained by Tracy McNeil, the 8-year-old mare won three of her five starts last year and closed out her season with a win over Lady Henrietta in a $25,000 claiming race Oct. 12. This will be her first start since. In 2014, she came within three-quarters of a length of beating Dear Lilly for the same price when she made her seasonal debut off a similar layoff exactly a year ago.

Atac M April goes for the hat trick and will be tested for class after winning back-to-back $16,000 conditional claimers in her first two starts at the meet for leading trainer Mike Anderson. The speedy filly was claimed out of her latest win by Patty Leaney.

KEY CONTENDERS

Hey Didjanotis (Last 3 Beyers: 72-55-61)

◗ The stakes-placed filly should appreciate the flow of the race, and as long as she doesn’t get stuck down on the rail, she should be in the mix turning for home.

Hidden Harbor (Last 3 Beyers: 65-62-77)

◗ She can fire fresh, and she may have been trying to tell us something when she earned a bullet May 16 for her four-furlong move in 47.60 seconds.