Little Groot a single in mandatory pick-five payout

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Little Groot is facing open company for the first time but he looks like the one to catch and beat in a $16,000 claimer for 3-year-olds and up that headlines the final Saturday card of the meet at Hastings. With Sunday being closing day, there is a mandatory payout of the Saturday pick five, which begins in race 3 with a $6,067 carryover. Hastings is adding “found money” that needs to be paid out to make the total $10,126.

Little Groot can be singled in the fourth race, which drew six horses.

Trained by Mark Cloutier, Little Groot is coming off his third straight front-running win and he looks like the only serious speed in the 6 1/2-furlong dash. The 3-year-old British Columbia-bred had things his own way when he romped by 3 1/2 lengths in an $8,000 maiden claimer on Aug. 23. He got hooked but not cooked despite dueling through wicked interior fractions when he won an $8,000 claiming race for nonwinners of three on Sept. 21.

In his last race, which came in a $16,000 claimer for nonwinners of three, he held a clear lead early but appeared to be in jeopardy when The Chances R collared him on the middle of the stretch turn. However, responding to left-handed urging by Enrique Gonzalez, he repelled the bid and drew off late to win the 6 1/2-furlong sprint by 1 1/4 lengths.

He will break from the outside post with Gonzalez up.

KEY CONTENDERS

Little Groot, by Harbor the Gold

Last 3 Beyers: 77-62-59

◗ He has blossomed late in his 3-year-old campaign and the 77 Beyer he received for his latest victory is easily the best last-race figure in the field. As the lone speed he should be gone if he breaks alertly.

Highway Boss, by Street Boss

Last 3 Beyers: 66-54-66

◗ Owned and trained by Glen Todd, the stakes winner is the class of the party and is coming off a win in a $35,000 claimer going 6 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 14.

◗ Despite winning for $35,000, it really isn’t surprising to see him in for $16,000. His previous win came going a mile and a sixteenth in a $12,500 claimer on Aug. 19. What is surprising is that the 7-year-old Kentucky-bred won sprinting. Prior to his latest shocker, his last win sprinting came in his fourth start as a 2-year-old in the $59,515 Everett Nevin Stakes at Pleasanton on July 6, 2014.

European, by Cause to Believe

Last 3 Beyers: 62-67-73

◗ Not sure if he should be listed as a contender because he just does not want to win. However, the Dino Condilenios-trained 4-year-old has been part of the trifecta in 10 of his last 11 starts. At the least he should be part of any exotics ticket.