Longer distance, same level for Lasting Spice

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Lasting Spice looks like the one to beat in Saturday's featured race at Hastings, an allowance that attracted five fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles.

Trained by Tracy McCarthy, Lasting Spice came from a stalking position on May 14 to score a decisive win over Sweet N Sour going 6 1/2 furlongs. That allowance race, just like Saturday's, was open to nonwinners of two lifetime or British Columbia-breds who have not won three times. As a British Columbia-bred, Lasting Spice remains eligible for the condition again. She will be stretching out to a middle distance for the first time and McCarthy thinks she's up to the task.

"I like the way settled when she ran last time," said McCarthy. "She trains like she'll go long and she has the breeding for it."

The only horse in the field who has actually won a race longer than 6 1/2 furlongs is Rainbowsinthewood. Trained by Rob VanOverschot, Rainbowsinthewood made a late run to finish fourth behind Lasting Spice in her first start this season and figures to relish the extra yardage.

* The most interesting horse on the card is Burj Dubai, a 4-year-old son of Distorted Humor who is making his debut in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race in the fifth race.

Burj Dubai was purchased for $1 million as a yearling by the Darley Stable at Keeneland in 2007. He was part of the yearly package Swift Thoroughbreds Inc. buys from Darley, and when he arrived at Hastings this spring, he was a handful for trainer Dino Condilenios.

The first time Condilenios sent him out to work with exercise rider Christine Loseth aboard, Burj Dubai refused. He has come a long way since then, however, and couldn't have been more impressive when he worked 6 1/2 furlongs out of the gate in 1:18.40 last Saturday. Condilenios gives Loseth a lot of the credit for Burj Dubai's development.

"It helped that we gelded him, but really, Christine has done a tremendous job with him," said Condilenios. "She has been very patient, and I don't think there are too many exercise riders that would have gotten back on him after some of the stuff he pulled. He can run, but he's still temperamental and we're all interested to see how he behaves Saturday. He could be a good one."