Ladnesian battle is for second

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Bound to Be M V P stands out on Sunday in the $40,000 Ladnesian, the first stakes race for 2-year-old colts and geldings at Hastings this year. The 6 1/2-furlong Ladnesian drew seven horses, but it's hard to see any of them beating Bound to Be M V P.

A Washington-bred colt, Bound to Be M V P was a handful prior to his debut in a 3 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race May 7. He dropped his rider, Dave Wilson, leaving the paddock, and ran off, circling the about five-furlong oval before his trainer, Brian Giesbrecht, caught him just in front of the paddock.

Bound to Be M V P was all business once he was in the race, though. He broke a couple of steps slowly but immediately gathered himself and proceeded to draw off to an easy five-length win. He came back to win a $50,000 optional race at six furlongs on June 26 by a widening 3 1/4 lengths, and, said Wilson, "I had a lot of horse left."

One Special Browny and Red's Memories appear to have the best chance of rounding out the exacta.

One Special Browny set the pace and then tired to finish fourth behind Bound to Be M V P in the June 26 race. He came back with a sharp five-furlong move in 1:00.80 on July 3 and should be tighter for this.

Red's Memories was a gutsy winner when he debuted in a 3 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race May 23.