It's time to show his stuff

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Leading trainer Dino Condilenios thought enough of One of the Lonely to begin his year in the John Longden 6000 on June 14. One of the Lonely ran evenly to finish fifth in his first start since last November.

If One of the Lonely is as good as Condilenios thinks, he is the one to beat in a $35,000 optional race for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles that goes as the ninth of 11 races Saturday at Hastings.

Also on Saturday's card is the first leg of the Endurance Series, where stakes winner Find Our Star figures to be a solid choice.

One of the Lonely, who will be ridden by Mario Velazques, should find this group of horses a lot softer than those he faced in the Longden, but it's not an easy spot for a horse still eligible for a non winners-of-two. In the field are stakes winners Jazzy Yacht and Colonial Secretary, and also Mecke Monster, who has won nine races and just missed to Jazzy Yacht in his first try around three turns.

There's also Test Drive. He has won three of his last four starts but he's never won going this far, and with Orchid's Son in the field he's not likely to have an easy time of it up front.

One of the Lonely is making just his sixth lifetime start, and while he hasn't accomplished what some of his opponents have, he appears to have a lot of potential and Condilenios hasn't become the leading trainer by running horses where they don't belong.

"He can run a bit," said Condilenios. "I didn't think that he was going to win the Longden, but he needed the race and he didn't embarrass himself. He should run better Saturday."