Look for 'Becka' in the lane

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - It appears that five of the six 3-year-old fillies entered in the $40,000 Fair Lady Stakes at Hastings on Sunday want the lead. That being the case, the 6 1/2-furlong race should set up beautifully for the late-running Backseat Becka.

A daughter of Orchid's Devil, Backseat Becka was the champion juvenile filly in the province in 2005 and she figures to be a solid favorite Sunday in her initial start of the year.

Backseat Becka won the British Columbia Cup Debutante and Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Sales Stakes and also finished second to Avenging Kat in the $106,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity. In all of her races, she lagged behind the leaders early and made a powerful move late.

She is owned and trained by Terry Clyde, who is happy with the way Backseat Becka has been training.

"She seems to be doing very well right now," she said. "But there's no pressure on her. She's already done enough for us, so she's become a bit of a spoiled horse."

Backseat Becka is the first stakes winner for Clyde. Dave Wilson will ride.

Slewpast is the only other stakes winner in the field. She finished fourth to Backseat Becka in the B.C. Debutante and then came right back and won the Lassie Stakes. She has excellent speed but can also stalk the pace. She drew the rail, and it's likely that jockey Frank Fuentes will have to send her from there.