Holy Nova makes 2010 debut

Hastings invader Holy Nova figures to be a short price in Friday's feature, a $40,000 optional claiming race for fillies and mares. All six of the horses entered in the six-furlong sprint are stakes winners. Only five will run, with Heaven On Hold scratching to run in Sunday's $50,000 John Patrick.

Holy Nova will be making her first start since she won the Grade 3 Ballerina at Hastings last October, and from the looks of her bullet five-furlong work before the races June 26, she appears to be ready for a big effort coming off the bench. Her first start last year, however, turned into a disaster when she reared at the start and never left the gate. She was declared a nonstarter. The rough start to the year didn't set her back. She won the Vancouver Sun in her first official start and then shipped to Emerald Downs where she dead-heated for first in the Boeing Handicap.

Holy Nova, 6, is undefeated in two starts at Northlands. She has been prepared at Hastings by trainer Troy Taylor. He was noncommittal about how she would run.

"She's a year older, and I'm not sure she's the same old Nova," Taylor said. "She's still a pretty nice horse, though."

Alan May will be the official trainer for Holy Nova on Friday.

Jasper's Valentine, trained by Jim Meyaard, looks like the main threat as the possible lone speed.