King Jeremy on the lead, with Ryson coming late

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - King Jeremy will try to fend off Ryson's strong finishing move in Sunday's $35,000 PNE Speed Handicap at Hastings Park. The 6 1/2-furlong race also attracted Dancewithavictor, who will be making his first start since capturing the B.C. Nursery Stakes as a 2-year-old in 1999.

King Jeremy, who races for Bold Four Thoroughbreds and Russ Arnet, will likely be favored and is the one to catch. He is coming off of a second-place finish to Lord Nelson in the 1 1/16-mile Hong Kong Jockey Club on July 21, in which he led for just over six furlongs and then held on for second over Greenbaypacker.

Unless Dancewithavictor can force the issue early, King Jeremy should have a clear lead, and he's racked up more than $200,000 by being a very stubborn horse while in front. His lone win this year came in the 6 1/2-furlong Victoria Day on May 21, but other than a poor effort over a sloppy track in the 1 1/16-mile John Longden 6,000, he's been right there in all of his races. Trainer Robbie Anderson has named leading rider David Wilson to ride.

Ryson is the top earner in the race, with $368,276, a large chunk of which came from winning three sprint stakes at Hastings Park, including this race in 1999. While King Jeremy will be on or near the lead, Ryson won't be worth keeping an eye on until at least the three-eighths pole, where he usually begins to kick it into gear. He made a strong late run to miss by a nose to Mike K in the B.C. Cup Sprint on Aug. 6, and he used the same type of move to win a $50,000 optional sprint in his previous start. Frank Barroby trains and he's named Mark Patzer to ride.