MacPherson has three in Chris Loseth Handicap

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Trainer Craig MacPherson isn’t sure what to expect from the three horses he has entered in the $50,000 Chris Loseth Handicap at Hastings on Sunday. The same could be said for most of the trainers of the 11 horses entered in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds. After all, the majority of the horses are stretching out to a middle distance for the first time this year, and the last stakes for 3-year-olds at Hastings, the $50,000 River Rock Casino, was a roughly run affair.

MacPherson thinks his trio of Day Raider, Titochip, and Weekend Wizard will be spread apart early. Weekend Wizard figures to be in the mix early, Titochip can stalk, and Day Raider does his best running late.

“That’s about all I know,” he said. “It is an interesting group of horses and we’re going to find out a lot about all of them Sunday.”

With two stakes wins, Weekend Wizard is the most accomplished of the three. However, after easily winning the $50,000 Jim Coleman Province with Richard Hamel aboard by 5 1/2 lengths in his first start this year, he finished fifth after getting bounced around at the start in the $50,000 River Rock Casino with Aaron Gryder riding.

“I expected him to run a lot better in the River Rock, but he may have lost interest after what happened at the start,” MacPherson said.

Weekend Wizard will break from post 5 on Sunday with Hamel riding.

Titochip will be making his first start at Hastings. He won two races at Gulfstream Park then went to Woodbine, where he was moved up to second from fourth for trainer Pat Parente in the Wando Stakes on April 21. He didn’t fire in his next start, also on the Woodbine Tapeta, finishing seventh in a first-level allowance race with a $75,000 claiming option May 20.

“He may not have cared for the Tapeta,” MacPherson said. “He doesn’t stun you, but he’s a happy horse and he has trained well here. “

Day Raider, who ran a big race to finish second behind Wise Market in the 1 1/16-mile $100,000 Ascot Graduation last Oct. 1, came from well back to win a maiden special weight race going 6 1/2 furlongs in his first start this year on May 27.

Argosy Fleet, trained by Blaine Wright, could end up being favored off his troubled second in the River Rock. He appeared to be full of run on the stretch turn, but Weekend Wizard had him boxed in and he had nowhere to go. He finished with a rush when he finally found room in midstretch.

Argosy Fleet has the pedigree to excel at a middle distance, and in his best race as a 2-year-old he was the runner-up to the Grade 2 winner Run Away in the $100,000 Santa Anita Juvenile.

The Phil Hall-trained Wise Market figures to be prominent throughout.

He’s the Reason and Slew’s Da Boss could also make big impacts if they show up with their best stuff.