A taxing early pace was the story in each of the two co-featured stakes Monday at Hastings on the Canada Day card. First up was the $50,000 Monashee Handicap for fillies and mares racing 1 1/16 miles that was won by Matsqui, the longest shot on the board and saddled by Mark Freeman. The winner, a son of Finality ridden by Brian Boodramsingh, came from last in the early going, covered the distance in 1:44.51, and paid $35.10 to win. Runner-up Infinite Patience, who had her perfect 12-for-12 mark going long on dirt snapped, had the run of the race as she sat third behind dueling speedsters who were eye to eye through splits of 45.90 seconds and 1:10.89. The four-time defending British Columbia horse of the year took command as they turned for home but was run down by Matsqui in the closing stages. Infinite Patience was second by a half-length and was 5 1/2 lengths clear of hard-trying Air Force. Air Force, trained by Keith Pedersen, had dueled with 6-5 favorite We B Three before giving way to the top pair. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. The $50,000 Lieutenant Governors Handicap was quite similar in setup as speedy Bold Arch and Bakken Overdrive dueled for much of the race. At Attention had been unhurried in the early stages, trailing the pack until there was just more than a half-mile to run. With favorite Sunbird taking flight in front of him, At Attention still looked in peril as he had to race very wide on the final turn. Sunbird took command into the stretch, but At Attention was able to get up by a nose in the final stride for jockey Antonio Reyes and trainer Barbara Heads. At Attention paid $12.50 after stopping the clock in 1:43.16 over the fast surface. Sunbird, trained by Terry Jordan, was 1 1/4 lengths in front of Space at the finish. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.