'Knight' stands out in feature

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - After the Knight looks like a standout in the feature race at Hastings on Saturday, a 1 1/16-mile allowance race for 3-year-old fillies that have not won a stakes race in 2005.

With any luck, After the Knight wouldn't be eligible for this race. Trained by Lance Giesbrecht, After the Knight had to steady when she tried to sneak through along the rail on the stretch turn in the Alberta Centennial Handicap at Northlands Park on Aug. 13. Despite the mishap she was beaten only a length, and with a clean trip it's likely she would have been a clear winner.

After the Knight is a very sharp horse right now. She was an easy winner of an open allowance race Oct. 9 and didn't have any trouble handling $50,000 optional fillies in her previous start. Both races were at 1 1/16 miles. Justin Stein will ride.

Trained by Steve Henson, What a Blurr looks like the main threat, but could be suspect at the distance. A daughter of Real West, What a Blurr has also won her last two starts, but both of her wins were in $35,000 claiming sprints. This will be the first time she's gone farther than 6 1/2 furlongs.

* Saturday is Breeders' Cup Day at Belmont Park, and fans at Hastings will be able to bet directly into the huge Breeders' Cup pools.