Hockley should handle distance in claimer

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The featured sixth race Sunday at Hastings is just an $8,000 claiming race, but it is a highly competitive event, with most of the six horses entered seemingly capable of winning the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. Post time for the first of seven races is 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

Hockley will appreciate the move to a middle distance, and Ganbei is a serious threat while dropping to a new low in his 45-race career.

C C’s Diamond looks like the one they will have to catch, and Toccet’s Charm came from last to edge C C’s Diamond while going 1 1/16 miles in an $8,000 claimer July 5.

Key contenders

Hockley (Last 3 Beyers: 71-69-64)

* Trained by Tracy McNeil, Hockley is coming off a sharp third in an $8,000 starter race July 13, and he really wants more distance. His lone win sprinting came in his previous start in an $8,000 claiming race.

* He won three races going 1 1/16 miles at Hastings last year and shouldn’t have any trouble handling the distance. He has never gone this far on dirt, but in two starts on turf in Southern California going nine furlongs, he finished third by a head in a maiden special weight race at Santa Anita and won a first-level allowance race at Hollywood Park.

* He will be ridden by leading rider Amadeo Perez, who won seven races last weekend. Perez should be able to use Hockley’s tactical speed to put him into a stalking position early.

Ganbei (Last 3 Beyers: 63-72-66)

* The 8-year-old former stakes winner is coming off a dull effort in a $16,000 claiming race July 12, but his third for the same price in his previous race would put him squarely in the mix. He is cutting his price by half, and according to DRF Formulator, his trainer, Mel Snow, has won with 25 percent of his starters who were cutting their value by 50 percent or more over the last five years.

Toccet's Charm (Last 3 Beyers: 71-63-69)

* A deep closer, he overcame a moderate pace when he rallied from last to win his latest for trainer Dave Dahl. According to DRF Formulator, Dahl has a 15 percent strike rate over the past five years with horses who won their most recent start.