Lowther Street ready to stretch out

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Lowther Street heads a strong field of older horses in Sunday's featured race at Hastings. Patrons will have to get here early to watch the races, which begin at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.

The feature is worth getting up for. Among the 10 horses entered in the 1 1/16-mile $50,000 optional claimer are Krazy Koffee and Trick of the North. Krazy Koffee was the local horse of the year in 2008, and Trick of the North won six races last year, including the Grade 3 Premiers.

Despite those strong credentials, Lowther Street figures to be favored, and Senor Rojo is a clear second choice.

Trainer Dino Condilenios thinks Lowther Street is coming up to a big race. Despite never having won a sprint in his career, Lowther Street was heavily touted when he made his first start at Hastings in a 6 1/2-furlong $50,000 optional race June 5. He ran a decent race, but after making what looked like a winning move while going five wide around the stretch turn, he couldn't sustain his momentum and finished fourth. In his two previous starts he finished fifth behind Awesome Gem in the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup last October, and won a first-level allowance race going a mile and an eighth at Saratoga Sept. 6. Condilenios thinks he is coming up to a big race Sunday.

"We learned a lot about him in his first start and we've made some adjustments," said Condilenios. "He was a bit nervous and washed out a bit and we should be able to have him more settled. Plus, he really wants to go long."

Fernando Perez retains the mount.

Senor Rojo, trained by Dave Forster, easily has the best last race Beyer Speed Figure in the field, a 90, and he is dropping into a much easier spot after tackling stakes horses in the $50,000 John Longden 6000 June 6. He also has some tactical speed in a race where there are no confirmed front-runners. Senor Rojo hasn't won a race since he beat Devil Cat M D in a $75,000 optional claimer last July, but he ran big races to finish third in the Richmond Derby Trial and fourth in the Grade 3 B.C. Derby.

Ganbei, who beat Senor Rojo in the Richmond Derby Trial, should also receive some support off of his second-place finish behind Spaghetti Mouse in a $50,000 optional race May 30.