Langara Lass vs. the boys

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Ever since the 2-year-old filly Langara Lass scored an impressive 5 1/4-length win in the Lassie Stakes on Aug. 28, trainer Dave Forster has been pointing her towards the $75,000 Fantasy Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 22.

With no open stakes between the Lassie and the Fantasy, Forster has been trying to find a prep race for his double stakes winner. He has elected to run her against a tough field of colts and geldings in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race Monday at Hastings.

The two horses Langara Lass will have to beat in the six-horse field are stakes winner Feu Express and Regal Request, who missed by a nose in the New Westminster Stakes on Aug. 28. Although Forster is viewing this as a prep, Langara Lass just might be good enough to win.

Langara Lass couldn't have been more impressive when she romped in the Lassie. A daughter of Langfur, Langara Lass was bumped and squeezed back leaving the starting gate and when it appeared she was going to blow by the leaders just past the quarter pole, she had to check sharply and dropped back to last.

Chad Hoverson, who is the regular rider of both Feu Express and Langara Lass, will ride the filly.

Feu Express will be tough to beat. He was an easy winner of the CTHS Sales Stakes on Sept. 10 and cruised to a 6 1/4-length win in a $50,000 optional sprint Sept. 23. Pedro Alvarado rides.