Miracle horse now a Hastings claimer
VANCOUVER, British Columbia Numaany will be a short-priced favorite to win the second race at Hastings on Friday. The 1 1/8-mile starter race for 3-year-olds and up drew five horses and will serve as the feature on the eight race card. Horses that have started for a claiming price of $8,000 or less in 2008-2009 are eligible to the race.
Trained by Dino Condilenios, Numaany is coming off of a 2 1/2-length win in a similar race on July 18 and he stands out in this field. A 4-year-old colt by A.P. Indy, Numaany began his career for the Darley Stable at Aqueduct in 2007. He won his second start so impressively that the 1 1/8-mile maiden race can be seen on YouTube under the heading Numaany: Miracle horse.
With Javier Castellano aboard, Numaany was in complete control of the race in midstretch when he veered out and came to almost a complete stop. Castellano also lost an iron, but after regaining his balance, he got Numaany going again and in two jumps the horse was back in full stride and on his way to victory.
Numaany looked like he had stakes potential when he earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure for his win in a 1 1/8-mile first-level allowance race at Saratoga last year. But in his next start he finished 12th in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby and after a couple of dull efforts over the winter at Aqueduct, he was sold as part of a package of horses purchased by Swift Thoroughbreds Inc.
Numaany ran poorly in his first three starts at Hastings, and Condilenios dropped him into an $8,000 claiming race on May 30 and he lost by a head. He seems to be back on top of his game now and anything close to his latest performance easily wins here. Frank Fuentes retains the mount.
Candlestick Park figures to improve off of his third-place finish to Numaany. Trained by Ned Sams, Candlestick Park went into the race off of a fifth-place finish in a $25,000 optional sprint on July 12 and is likely to move forward in his second straight race at the distance.
Timeless Passion has some back class and he is coming off of a win at the distance in a $7,500 claiming race for horses that haven t won two races this year.
Colondelivery was no match for Numaany in his last start, finishing fourth by 11 lengths. Harlem rounds out the field.