Kai's Command, Come Away Home square off in Starter Championship Series

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Kai’s Command and Come Away Home clearly are the ones to beat Sunday in the second leg of the Starter Championship Series at Hastings. The first leg of the series for horses who have started for $8,000 or less in 2014 was split into two divisions, and Kai’s Command and Come Away Home each came away with an impressive win.

The four-race series culminates Sept. 14 with the top 11 points earners running for a $50,000 purse. The winner of Sunday’s race will receive 400 points, with 200 points going to the second-place finisher. Any horse who finishes the race will receive points.

The 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew 12 horses – only 11 will run – and goes as race 5 on an eight-race card that begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.

The wide-open fillies-and-mares division drew 10 horses and has been carded as the fifth race. It is hard to separate Fair Command, Sacred Delight, and Clarisse B.

Race 5: Starter handicap

Key contenders

Kai’s Command (Last 3 Beyers: 77-78-72)

* It wasn’t surprising that trainer Jodie Rawson said that Kai’s Command was a very tired horse after his win July 13. Breaking from the rail with Richard Hamel aboard, Kai’s Command was hooked every step of the way and was very game while holding off the strong late move of Honestly Occifer.

“He didn’t have many options leaving from the rail, and he had to run hard the whole way,” said Rawson. “He didn’t want to do much the next couple of days, but he’s bounced back nicely, and he’s ready to go.”

* The 4-year-old gelding, who hasn’t lost in four starts this year, came from a stalking position to win a $16,000 claimer in his previous race with Rico Walcott aboard. For Sunday, he drew post 8, where he should get a similar trip with Walcott back in the saddle.

Come Away Home (Last 3 Beyers: 74-76-76)

* Based at Emerald Downs, the Jim Penney-trained 6-year-old showed he could handle a two-turn sprint with his sharp win over Lookout Dubai in his first start at Hastings since he finished second in a $17,500 conditional claimer in 2012.

FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Penney has won with 35 percent of the horses he has started at Hastings.

Lookout Dubai (Last 3 Beyers: 71-53-56)

* Trained by Brian O’Connell, the main speed ran a big race in the first leg and appears to be rounding into the form that saw him win back-to-back sprints for $10,000 and $15,000 last year.