Juveniles gear up for Spaghetti Mouse

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Phil Hall said Summerland came out of her record-setting performance in excellent shape and is being pointed to the $50,000 Spaghetti Mouse on July 15. The Spaghetti Mouse is the first 2-year-old stakes race at the meet, and though Summerland will be facing boys, she is clearly the early favorite for the six-furlong dash.

With Enrique Gonzalez aboard, the Kentucky-bred daughter of He’s Tops broke sharply and just kept widening when she debuted going 3 1/2 furlongs May 27. Her winning margin was 9 1/4 lengths over Vintage, who easily won his next start, and her final time of 38.85 seconds is the track record for the distance.

In her first work following her dominating performance she looked super working a half-mile in 47.00 seconds with Gonzalez aboard Sunday.

“She’s doing great,” Hall said. “It was an easy work for her, and I loved the way she galloped out in a minute flat. I plan to work her at least a couple more times before the Spaghetti Mouse.”

With the Spaghetti Mouse coming up in less than a month, babies are starting to gear up for the race. There are two races for juveniles Saturday and kicking off the seven-race card is the first two-turn sprint for 2-year-olds this year.

Trainer Dino Condilenios is hoping for a big effort from Friday in a six-furlong dash for fillies. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Shackleford will break from post 3 with Antonio Reyes riding.

Reyes also was aboard when she worked a strong five furlongs in 1:01.80 on June 15.

“She’s a nice filly and she does everything right,” Condilenios said. “I like what I see so far. Antonio loves her and after her last work he compared her to Tiptoe. If she runs well, we’ll consider her for the Spaghetti Mouse.”

Tiptoe was impressive winning her first two starts for Condilenios. The British Columbia-bred daughter of Tiz Wonderful is being pointed to the $50,000 Supernaturel on July 2, when she will be stretching out to a middle distance for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies

With no real standouts, it probably makes sense to focus on Spin a Tale in the maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds going 3 1/2 furlongs in Race 4.

She has been working well enough, but more importantly trainer Craig MacPherson has a 35 percent strike rate with juveniles debuting in maiden special weight races the past five years.

“I’m not going in there thinking she’s a rocket ship,” MacPherson said. “But she is quick, is professional, and she’s been good at the gate. Fillies seem to be a bit more aggressive than boys, so if she breaks well I think she’ll give it a good go.”

Aaron Gryder will be aboard when she breaks from post 4.