Mendoza runners finish 1-2 in Lieutenant Governors', Spaghetti Mouse
It was a big day at Hastings for trainer Edgar Mendoza who saddled the winner and the runner-up in the $50,000 Lieutenant Governors’ for 3-year-olds and up and the $50,000 Spaghetti Mouse for 2-year-olds.
Be Quick ($15.70) edged Porter Gent by nose in the Lieutenant Governors’. Legacy Square was impressive winning his debut over Bak to Liberty in the Spaghetti Mouse.
Breaking from the outside post in the seven-horse field, Be Quick was aggressively ridden by Antonio Reyes to establish good early position in the 6 1/2-furlong Lieutenant Governors’, then prompted Sir Bregovic through a half-mile in 45.67 seconds, took over the lead on the stretch turn, and was all-out to hold off Porter Gent in a thrilling finish. Porter Gent stalked the leaders, lacked room turning for home, and after moving outside finished with a rush to just miss. It was another nose back to Cascade Billy who tracked the leaders and rallied between horses in the stretch to finish a head in front of Sir Bregovic.
The final time was 1:15.97.
A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Bodemeister, Be Quick was undefeated until he had a brutal trip in his first start of the year in the $50,000 George Royal on June 4. He races for White Hall Farms.
In the Spaghetti Mouse, Legacy Square broke awkwardly from the inside post in the six-furlong race and saved ground going around the first turn where he had one horse beat. He started to make his presence known approaching the half-mile marker, made a strong three-wide move around the stretch turn, and took command late to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Bak to Liberty broke sharply, stalked the pace, took over the lead on the stretch turn, but could not hold off the winner. Ms. Stanford held on well to finish third after dueling with Lilsisterlee through a half-mile in 47.83.
Legacy Square was ridden by Efrain Hernandez. He paid $11.50 and posted a final time of 1:13.06.
A British Columbia-bred son of Lent, Legacy Square is a half-brother to U Did It who was undefeated as a 2-year-old last year and will be favored to win the $50,000 Supernaturel on Sunday at Hastings. Legacy Square races for Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds and James Redekop.
Bak to Liberty is a half-sister to Infinite Patience who won the $50,000 Monashee for fillies and mares in the next race.
The Barbara Heads-trained Infinite Patience left no doubt who the top older filly or mare is in Western Canada with her front-running win over stablemate Solarity in the $50,000 Monashee. She paid $3.40 for her sixth straight victory, the last five victories coming in stakes races at Hastings and Century Mile.
The outcome of the 6 1/2-furlong dash was pretty much settled when Infinite Patience broke on top with Reyes riding. She was well in hand when she posted a half-mile time of 46.38 and held her rivals at bay the rest of the way under confident handling. The final margin was 1 1/4 lengths. Solarity also broke well, chased her stablemate the whole way, and held off We B Three by a nose. We B Three stalked the pace while saving ground, clipped heels with the winner when she tried to get through along the rail heading into the stretch turn, regrouped, and finished with determination to just miss grabbing the runner-up spot.
The final time was 1:16.18.
A British-Columbia-bred daughter of Sungold, Infinite Patience is owned by William Decoursey and Ryan Nugent Hopkins.