Longden's purse is bait for red-hot Modern

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The $75,000 purse of the John Longden 6000 at Hastings has a lot to do with why Modern is running in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up, which drew nine horses and closes out the seven-race card Saturday.

Trainer Dino Condilenios said he didn’t want Modern to “dance every dance,” but it was hard to resist entering him in a race he will be heavily favored to win. Modern was voted the top sprinter at Hastings last year, and with back-to-back wins in the $50,000 Swift Thoroughbreds Inaugural and the $50,000 George Royal, he’s all but wrapped up the award again.

“If the purse was the usual $50,000, I might not have run him,” Condilenios said. “He is doing extremely well, but every race takes something out of them. We’ll probably give him a little break after this race.”

Modern has one way of going, and his usual rider, Richard Hamel, will put him on the lead after he breaks from post 4.

The Chilean-bred Sabado Alegre was an impressive front-running winner of an optional $50,000 claiming sprint in his first start for trainer Craig MacPherson. It was Sabado Alegre’s first win since he romped in his second start in his home country on Feb. 23, 2015.

“I don’t think we want to run with Modern early,” MacPherson said. “Hopefully, he can stalk.”

Antonio Reyes picks up the mount from Hamel.

Trainer Steve Henson is looking for a better performance from Square Dancer, the 2015 local Horse of the Year. In his first start this year in the George Royal, he was on the bit right from the start, and after chasing Modern for a half-mile, he finished last.

“He was just too sharp,” Henson said. “He’ll be a lot more settled this time.”

Square Dancer came from off the pace to win the $100,000 Redekop Classic and the $50,000 S.W. Randall Plate last year.

Supporting the Longden race is the $50,000 Strawberry Morn for fillies and mares. The 6 1/2-furlong dash drew eight horses and is the first half of the late daily double.

Arabella’s Muse is a deserving favorite. She is going for her fifth straight stakes win for trainer Mike Anderson and figures to move forward after winning the Vancouver Sun in her first start since she beat Locket in the $75,000 Pegasus Distaff on Aug. 3.

Trainer Robbie Anderson is hoping he can beat his brother with either Sailingforthesun or Avidiva.

Sailingforthesun, who drew the rail, is stepping up in class after easily winning back-to-back optional-claiming races. Avidiva won the $50,000 Brighouse Belles and then lost by a nose to Arabella’s Muse in the Vancouver Sun. She drew post 6.

“I am not sure which one I like better,” Robbie Anderson said. “If they could switch post positions, I would probably go with Sailingforthesun. I think she’s a bit more versatile, but I don’t know what kind of trip she’ll get breaking from the rail.”

The Andersons’ sister, trainer Barbara Heads, is well represented by Touching Promise, who rallied to finish third in the Sun. Touching Promise was making her first start since she won her third stakes in a row in the Grade 3 Ballerina on Oct. 12.