High expectations for Rock Victor

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Greg Tracy is expecting a big effort from Rock Victor in a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds at Hastings on Friday evening. If Rock Victor performs as well as Tracy hopes, he will make his next start in the CTHS Sales Stakes two weeks later.

Rock Victor drew the rail in the six-furlong race Friday, which drew 10 horses and goes as the second race. It is the first leg of the Sea to Sky Pick 6, which has a $112,895 carryover.

Tracy was looking for a strong race from Rock Victor when he made his debut in a similar race July 17. Rock Victor broke sharply and assumed the lead. However, he was pretty much done when he bore out heading into the first turn with Skyler White Shield aboard.

“I was shocked when he did that,” said Tracy. “When I brought him here from Northlands, I worked him five furlongs out of the gate, and he didn’t have any trouble with the turn.”

Tracy sent him back for another move out of the gate Aug. 5, and he worked a strong four furlongs in 47.80 seconds.

“No problems,” said Tracy.

Rock Victor will be ridden by David Lopez.

Trainer Jody Rawson isn’t sure what to expect from Run Harvey Run, who will break from post 8. A son of Second in Command, Run Harvey Run may have tipped his hand when he worked a bullet four furlongs in 47.40 seconds with Richard Hamel aboard last Saturday.

“He has a lot of talent, but he is a bit of a slow learner,” said Rawson. “He’s done everything pretty easily, so I am not sure how he is going to respond when he gets tested.”

Rawson is having the best year of her career, winning with 45 percent of her starters.

“I am not doing anything differently,” she said. “I think it’s just the stock I have.”

The best horse in her barn is Prince Hotel, who has won five of his six starts since Rawson took over his training this year. His last three wins came in the Starter Handicap Championship Series, and he will be heavily favored to win the $50,000 Champions Series Final on Sept. 10.

“I think he just grew up as a 4-year-old,” she said. “His confidence was a bit low when I got him, but he got it back after a couple of works, and he’s a beast right now.”

Another entrant in Friday’s maiden race, Brother Rod, caught the attention of the clockers at Hastings when he worked a bullet three furlongs out of the gate last Sunday. He makes his debut for trainer John Morrison.