Ice Machine must be caught

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Miss Me Not and Ice Machine look like the ones to beat in the fillies division of the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes at Hastings Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile feature also attracted B.C. Cup Debutante winner Excited Miss, who might be suspect at the distance. The other three horses in the race, for 3-year-old fillies who have gone through a Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society sale, appear to be overmatched.

Ice Machine, with Chad Hoverson aboard, will probably try and take them the whole way. Ice Machine was claimed out of a $50,000 maiden race by trainer Terry Jordan April 22, when she finished fifth as the heavy favorite. Jordan brought her back in a $35,000 maiden race April 22 and she floated over a sloppy track to an easy nine-length win. Ice Machine will be stretching out for the first time Saturday and could be dangerous if she gets away on her own.

But there is other speed in the field, and the race could set up nicely for Miss Me Not. Trained by John Snow, Miss Me Not is coming off of a fast-closing win in a $50,000 optional claiming sprint June 4 and she is the only horse with experience at the distance. Miss Me Not won the CTHS Sales Stakes as a 2-year-old last Sept. 11, and after finishing third in the Sadie Diamond Futurity, she ran well to finish second behind local 2-year-old filly champion Langara Lass in the 1 1/16-mile Fantasy.