Kalfaari just looks too fast

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Kalfaari looks like a standout over five other sprinters in the feature race at Hastings, an allowance worth $25,300.

Kalfaari has compiled an enviable record the past two years. He has won 9 of 11 starts and his only two losses were at distances his trainer and owner, Clint Willson, thought might be beyond his reach. One of the losses was in his most recent race, the 1 1/8-mile Sir Winston Churchill. But that effort only makes him look better in this 6 1/2-furlong sprint.

He battled through extremely fast fractions and then gave way grudgingly to finish a close third to Futural. In his previous race, the 6 1/2-furlong Hastings Speed Handicap Sept. 6, he ran head and head with the speedy Celt and got the nod at the wire. There doesn't appear to be any horse that can match his early speed Sunday, and he'll be extremely tough to beat. He'll be ridden by his usual rider, Sean Evans.

Silver Donn, who will be ridden by leading rider Pedro Alvarado, was one of the top 3-year-olds at Hastings last year, but he hasn't made an impact in the older handicap division this year. He finished fifth to Kalfaari in the Hastings Speed and his best finish in a stakes was a second to Lets Go Rusty in the John Longden 6000.

Silver Donn has been freshened since running in the Speed. His trainer, Bob Rohman, likes the way he's been training and thinks he'll run a good race Sunday.

Go on Orange could have been claimed for $6,000 last fall and he would have been a bargain. Since then he's won an allowance on the turf at Golden Gate and in his most recent race he finished a bang-up second to Celt in a $50,000 optional race Oct. 13.